Nutrients attenuate the negative effect of ocean acidification on reef coral calcification in the Arabian Sea upwelling zone (Masirah Island, Oman)

Tropical shallow-water reefs are the most diverse ecosystem in the ocean. Its persistence rests upon adequate calcification rates of the reef building biota, such as reef corals. Optimum calcification rates of reef corals occur in oligotrophic environments with high seawater saturation states of aragonite (Ωsw), which leads to increased vulnerability to anthropogenic ocean acidification and eutrophication. The calcification response of reef corals to this changing environment is largely unknown, however. Here, we present annually and sub-annually resolved records of calcification rates (n = 3) of the coral Porites from the nutrient rich and low Ωsw Arabian Sea upwelling zone (Masirah Island, Oman). Calcification rates were determined from the product of skeletal extension and bulk density derived from X-ray densitometry. Compared to a reference data set of coral skeletons from typical reef environments (Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii), mean annual skeletal bulk density of Porites from Masirah Island is reduced by 28 %. This density deficit prevails over the entire year and probably reflects a year-round low saturation state of aragonite at the site of calcification (Ωcf), independent of seasonal variations in Ωsw (e.g. upwelling). Mean annual extension rate is 20 % higher than for the reference data set. In particular, extension rate is strongly enhanced during the seasons with the lowest water temperatures, presumably due to a high PO43−/NO3−-ratio promoting rapid upward growth of the skeleton. Enhanced annual extension attenuates the negative effect of low density on calcification rate from −25 % to −11 %, while sub-annual calcification rates during the cool seasons even exceed those of the reference corals. We anticipate optimal nutrient environments (e.g. high PO43−/NO3−-ratios) to have significant potential to compensate the negative effect of ocean acidification on reef coral calcification, thereby allowing to maintain adequate rates of carbonate accumulation, which are essential for preserving this unique ecosystem.

Evolution of the Arabian Sea Upwelling from the Last Millennium to the Future as Simulated by Earth System Models

Arabian Sea upwelling in the past has been generally studied based on the sediment records. We apply two earth system models and analyze the simulated water vertical velocity to investigate coastal upwelling in the western Arabian Sea over the last millennium. In addition, two models with slightly different configurations are also employed to study the upwelling in the 21st century under the strongest and the weakest greenhouse gas emission scenarios. With a negative long-term trend caused by the orbital forcing of the models, the upwelling over the last millennium is found to be closely correlated with the sea surface temperature, the Indian summer Monsoon and the sediment records. The future upwelling under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario reveals a negative trend, in contrast with the positive trend displayed by the upwelling favorable along-shore winds. Therefore, it is likely that other factors, like water stratification in the upper ocean layers caused by the stronger surface warming, overrides the effect from the upwelling favorable wind. No significant trend is found for the upwelling under the RCP2.6 scenario, which is likely due to a compensation between the opposing effects of the increase in upwelling favorable winds and the water stratification.

Resolving submesoscale processes and cross-scale interactions in the Gulf of Oman

<p>The physical dynamics of the Sea of Oman are well resolved on meso- and basin-scales. The most prominent features are the slope current of the Persian Gulf Water (PGW), an energetic field of persistent eddies and circulation driven by seasonal monsoon wind regimes. Past work has shown that both oxygenation of the deep oxygen minimum zone and stimulation of local surface primary production are driven by submesoscale processes. In contrast to the pronounced summer-monsoon upwelling in the Arabian Sea, upwelling at the northern Omani shelf appears in the form of short irregular events. The main drivers for local upwelling and the exchange of water and its properties across the shelf break are not fully resolved. In particular, the relative importance of the two dominant causes of upwelling (ekman dynamics and eddy/topography interactions) and their interactions with the PGW slope-current are not known. Cross-shelf coupling is strongly determined by processes on the sub-mesoscale with weak surface signatures preventing analysis through remote sensing. The high system complexity and the lack of adequate observations explain past difficulties in resolving cross-shelf transport and local upwelling responsible for increased primary productivity and OMZ oxygenation.</p><p>Here we present new results identifying the submesoscale processes which control productivity and oxygenation in the region at a scale not previously described. These observations build on past work and illustrate how autonomous underwater vehicles can bring forward a full system understanding from basin-wide circulation and description of large ocean currents to submesoscale processes responsible for controlling biogeochemical cycling from a single campaign using standard ocean sensors and utilising the vehicles' inherent ability to measure upwelling and currents. We hope to illustrate the multidisciplinarity and flexibility of autonomous platforms in situations where vessels may not easily survey.</p>

Evolution of the Arabian Sea upwelling in the past centuries and in the future as simulated by Earth System Models

Arabian Sea upwelling in the past has been generally studied based on the sediment records. We apply two earth system models and analyse the simulated water vertical velocity to investigate the variations of the coastal upwelling in the western Arabian Sea over the last millennium. In addition, two models with slightly different configurations are also employed to study the changes in upwelling in the 21st century under the strongest and the weakest greenhouse gas emission scenarios. With a negative long-term trend caused by the orbital forcing of the models, the upwelling over the last millennium is found to be closely correlated with the sea surface temperature, the Indian summer Monsoon and sediment records. The future upwelling under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario reveals a negative trend, in contrast with the positive trend displayed by the upwelling favourable along-shore winds. Therefore, it is likely that other factors, like water stratification in the upper ocean layers caused by the stronger surface warming overrides the effect from the upwelling favourable wind. No significant trend is found for the upwelling under the RCP2.6 scenario, which is likely due to a compensation between the opposing effects of the increase in upwelling favourable winds and the stratification of the water column.

Arabian Sea upwelling over the last millennium and in the 21st century as simulated by Earth System Models

Arabian Sea upwelling in the past has been generally studied based on the sediment records. We apply two earth system models and analyse the simulated water vertical velocity to investigate the variations of the coastal upwelling in the western Arabian Sea over the last millennium. In addition, the same models, with slightly different configurations, are also employed to study the changes in upwelling in the 21st century under the strongest and the weakest greenhouse gas emission scenarios. With a negative long-term trend caused by the orbital forcing of the models, the upwelling over the last millennium is found to be closely correlated with the sea surface temperature, the Indian summer Monsoon and sediment records. The future upwelling under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario reveals a negative trend, in contrast with the positive trend displayed by the upwelling favourable along-shore winds. Therefore, it is likely that other factors, like water stratification in the upper ocean layers caused by the stronger surface warming overrides the effect from the upwelling favourable wind. No significant trend is found for the upwelling under the RCP2.6 scenario, which is likely due to a compensation between the opposing effects of the increase in upwelling favourable winds and the stratification of the water column.