Regional estimates of POC export flux derived from thorium-234 in the western Arctic Ocean

1Introduction CarboncyclingintheArcticOceanplaysanim- portantroletoglobalchange.Traditionally,marine productivityintheArcticOceanisthoughttobevery low,andthussomebiogeochemicalprocessessuchas particleexportandcyclingofnutrientsarenotsoac- tivebecauseofthembeingcoveredperenniallybyice, lowtemperatureandshorttimeofphotosynthesis (PlattandRao,1975).Afewpreviousestimatesof particulateorganiccarbon(POC)exportindicateda neglectablemagnitudeinthecentralArcticOcean (Baconetal.,1989).However,recen…     

Relationship between Composition of Settling Particles and Organic Carbon Flux in the Western North Pacific and the Japan Sea

Settling particles play an important role in transporting organic carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. It is known that major components of settling particles are biogenic silicates (opal), biogenic carbonate (CaCO₃), lithogenic clays and organic matter. Since each component aggregates and/or takes in organic carbon, all of these components have the ability to transport particulate organic carbon (POC) to the interior of the ocean. In this study, sediment trap experiments were carried out in four areas of the western North Pacific (including a marginal sea). Factors are proposed that correlate the composition of settling particles with POC flux. Annual mean organic carbon fluxes at 1 km depth in the western North Pacific Basin, Japan Sea, Hidaka Basin and northern Japan Trench were found to be 14.9, 18.1, 13.0 and 6.6 mg/m²/day, respectively. Organic carbon flux in the western North Pacific was greater than that in the Eastern North Pacific (7.4), the Equatorial Pacific (4.2), the Southern Ocean (5.8) and the Eastern North Atlantic (1.8). In the western North Pacific, it was calculated that 52% of POC was carried by opal particles. Opal is known to be a major component even in the Eastern North Pacific and the Southern Ocean, and the opal fluxes in these areas are similar to those in the western North Pacific. However, the organic carbon flux that was carried by opal particles (OC_opalflux) in the western North Pacific was greater than that in the Eastern North Pacific and the Southern Ocean. These results indicate that the ability of opal particles to transport POC to the deep ocean in the western North Pacific is greater than that in the other areas.     

北太平洋大气沉降的时空特征及其对副极区海洋生态系统的影响

北太平洋副极地海区作为全球海洋三个高营养盐低叶绿素(high nutrient and low chlorophyll, HNLC)海区之一, 其浮游植物生长受到微量元素铁的限制。对于开阔大洋, 大气沉降是海洋表层铁的一个重要来源, 铁元素沉降进入海洋后能够促进浮游植物生长, 进而引起海洋初级生产力和生物泵的响应。本文利用SPRINTARS(Spectral Radiation-Transport Model for Aerosol Species)模式的时长为20a的日均大气沉降数据, 对北太平洋海区大气沉降的时空特征进行了分析。结果表明, 进入北太平洋海区的大气沉降量为26.81Tg·a^-1, 并且存在显著的季节变化: 春季最高, 冬季最低, 5月份进入海洋的沉降量达到峰值。大气沉降主要来源于陆地区域, 在风场的驱动下向海洋传输, 因此大气沉降量的空间分布呈现出西高东低的特征。本文以2010年8月中旬卫星观测到的一次强沙尘(即高大气沉降量)事件为例, 研究了大气沙尘的传播路径。进一步结合2001年4月9—12日及2008年4月20—22日的沙尘事件, 分析了西北太平洋K2站位(47°N, 160°E)附近海域海洋初级生产力对大气沉降——沙尘事件的响应。结果表明, 三次沙尘事件后, K2站位的颗粒有机碳通量、叶绿素浓度均有明显增加, 即沙尘事件对北太平洋副极区海洋初级生产力存在促进作用。     

西北太平洋山间盆地沉积物有机碳质量累积速率及影响因素

海洋碳汇作用是大洋生态系统的重要生态系统服务功能,不仅影响着海洋生态系统的能量流动,也是元素循环的重要驱动力。本文以中国大洋48航次采集自西北太平洋典型海山区海盆的沉积物样品和资料为基础,对西北太平洋山间盆地沉积物有机碳质量累积速率(F_orgc)特征及影响因素展开初步研究。结果表明,西北太平洋山间盆地有机碳质量累积速率变化范围为1.41～1.73 g/(m2·ka),均值为1.60 g/(m2·ka),以中部偏西海区的有机碳质量累积速率最高;全区平均净初级生产力转移效率约为0.003 1%。西北太平洋山间盆地有机碳质量累积速率和净初级生产力转移效率均低于东太平洋海区和赤道太平洋海区。本区有机碳质量累积速率受水层和沉积层的生物地球化学循环驱动因素,如海洋净初级生产力、沉积物质量累积速率、有机碳含量、氧化还原电位等的综合影响,同时也受距海山距离、水深等地形因子的影响。     

ENSO related variations in biogeochemistry of AA and HA in settling particles along the equatorial Pacific Ocean

Four year-long time-series sediment trap experiments were conducted along the equatorial Pacific Ocean in order to understand the biogeochemistry of particulate organic matter (POM) on the basis of amino acid (AA) and hexosamine (HA) compositions of the settling particles. Total mass flux in the study area varied over 4 orders of magnitude without a common seasonality among all trap sites. Planktonic blooms were apparent in terms of total mass and AA fluxes at the easternmost end of the Niño-4 region. AA fluxes closely followed the total mass flux profiles, suggesting that increased particle flux delivered a greater amount of labile OM to the deep ocean. A labile OM index (LI)-based classification showed that during the El Niño conditions in 2002, the eastern side of the equatorial Pacific transported relatively more labile OM than the western equatorial Pacific. An overall change in AA and HA composition of settling particles could be revealed with the help of discriminant analysis, suggesting that settling particles during El Niño were compositionally different from those settling during La Niña condition in the equatorial Pacific.     

Understanding the export of biogenic particles in oceanic waters: Is there consensus?

We examine progress towards a global view of oceanic export of particulate organic carbon (POC) and other nutrient elements (P, N, Si) from the surface (upper 100 m), through the subsurface, to the deep sea (>1000 m), focusing on syntheses published since 1999 and on the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study. Food-web structure is important, and surface and subsurface processes contribute similarly to determine the fraction of net primary production (NPP) reaching the deep sea. NPP by large cells generally favours high surface export of POC. Preferential remineralization of P and N (versus C) with depth is common, as is regional variation in subsurface POC flux attenuation.The role of mineral fluxes is complex. Annual mean fluxes of POC and minerals are correlated in global deep sediment trap records, but causality and the relative importance of different minerals depends on the assumptions made. Time-series observations at single sites can oppose the geographic trends, and their large seasonal variability in the contribution of POC to total flux is at odds with mechanistic models for POC transport by minerals. Despite generally positive correlations between biogenic carbonate and POC fluxes, the overall role of carbonate export is to decrease the transfer of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the ocean. Both autotrophs and heterotrophs produce minerals, and progress in separating these contributions is required for the deconvolution of mineral ballast and food-web effects.Many recent models suggest global surface POC export of ∼10 GTC/yr, despite widely varying biological complexity. This limits the usefulness of their prediction of ecosystem and carbon cycle responses to global change. Progress requires better observations for model validation, and more efforts to relate the models to the observed complexity, rather than to overly simplified global syntheses. We advocate more time-series stations targeting under-studied biogeochemical regions, development of automated in situ tools for study of the subsurface ocean, and increased emphasis on combining ecological and biogeochemical methods.     

Settling velocity spectra and the ballast ratio hypothesis

Recently it has been observed that a strong quantitative relationship exists between asymptotic fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) to the deep ocean and asymptotic fluxes of “ballast” minerals (opal; calcium carbonate; dust). It has further been suggested that this relationship might provide a mechanistic basis for improved representations of remineralization in ocean carbon models. Since the depth scale of remineralization z* is the ratio k/v of a remineralization rate k and a settling velocity (SV) v, a mechanistic understanding of settling velocities will be crucial in developing such models.Historically, there have been two approaches to estimating the speed with which POC is transported to the deep ocean. First, settling speeds of single particles have been observed directly in both field and laboratory settings; estimates of fecal pellet sinking velocities tend to be higher and more variable than those of aggregates. Second, estimates have been made of the velocity at which temporal patterns in flux propagate between pairs of sediment traps separated in depth (the “benchmark approach”); recent studies have shown these results to be variable and to depend on mineral ballasting. Here we present SV estimates using a relatively new technology: indented rotating sphere (IRS) sediment traps run in settling velocity (SV) mode. In this approach, particles are separated into SV classes during settling to collection cups. In MedFlux, SV data were collected concurrently with time-series (TS) data; the latter were used to construct benchmark estimates for comparison to the SV estimates. From the SV data, the range of modal settling velocities (sinking velocities having the largest time-averaged mass flux densities on a logarithmic scale of SV) in the fast-sinking fraction was estimated to be 287–503 m/d; the average of these modal values is 353 m/d, with standard deviation 76 m/d. In contrast, mean settling velocities of the fast-sinking fraction depend on the range of settling velocity classes included in the estimate. If only SV classes settling at >50 m/d are included, the range of SVs at MedFlux was 214–298 m/d, with average mean value 242 m/d and standard deviation 31 m/d. These mean-velocity results are in excellent agreement with benchmark estimates of signal propagation velocities at Medflux (220±65 m/d); they are also well within the range of other recent benchmark studies. The agreement between the benchmark estimates and mean settling velocity estimates at MedFlux, but not with modal velocities, argues that the benchmark method estimates mean settling velocities.     

桑沟湾夏、秋季悬浮颗粒物的沉降通量及再悬浮的影响

应用锚式悬挂沉积物捕捉器法,研究了我国北方重要海水养殖区域桑沟湾悬浮颗粒物沉降通量的分布特征,并通过金属Al标记法,同步测定了沉降颗粒物再悬浮比率。结果表明,桑沟湾的底层悬浮颗粒物(SPM)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、颗粒态总氮(PTN)和颗粒态总磷(PTP)平均表观沉降通量分别为1 511.4g/(m2·d)、20.01g/(m2·d)、1.497g/(m2·d)和0.474g/(m2·d),显著高于我国其他近岸海域,但底层沉降颗粒物再悬浮比率平均值高达92.8%,认为在养殖内湾,受再悬浮程度的影响,测得的底层表观沉降通量是中层的2.7倍,秋季明显大于夏季,海带和扇贝养殖区大于牡蛎养殖区。经再悬浮比率校正后的净沉降通量,仍存在着显著的空间和季节变化,但受控因素发生了根本转变;这主要表现为净沉降颗粒物质主要源于生物代谢活动强烈中上层水体,贝类的排泄作用使牡蛎和扇贝养殖区的净沉降通量显著大于海带养殖区,养殖贝类个体增大、排泄量增加使秋季净沉降通量高于夏季。在我国近岸海域,再悬浮作用的影响,会对该区域悬浮颗粒物沉降通量的估算带来巨大误差,因此该作用不容忽视。     

基于光合有效辐射的西北太平洋柔鱼资源丰度和空间分布变动研究

光合有效辐射(PAR)对于海洋初级生产力具有显著的调控作用，会间接影响到头足类的资源丰度和渔场分布。本文根据2006?2015年上海海洋大学鱿钓科学技术组提供的柔鱼鱿钓数据和光合有效辐射卫星遥感数据，研究了光合有效辐射与西北太平洋柔鱼种群的关系，并评估了异常环境条件下光合有效辐射对柔鱼的影响。结果发现，柔鱼单位捕捞努力量渔获量(CPUE)、渔场纬度重心、PAR，及其空间分布均具有显著的月间变化。7?11月各月适宜PAR范围分别为36～39 E/(m2·d)、33～36 E/(m2·d)、24～27 E/(m2·d)、18 E/(m2·d)和12 E/(m2·d)，最适宜PAR值分别为36 E/(m2·d)、33 E/(m2·d)、27 E/(m2·d)、18 E/(m2·d)和12 E/(m2·d)。此外，CPUE与PAR有显著正相关关系(p<0.05)，且CPUE与各月适宜PAR范围占渔场比例也呈显著正相关(p<0.05)；同时渔场纬度重心随各月最适PAR平均纬度变化而变化。在异常环境条件下，拉尼娜年份CPUE值比厄尔尼诺年份高，该年份PAR值异常增高可能是导致柔鱼资源丰度增加的因素之一。研究表明，光合有效辐射对于西北太平洋柔鱼资源丰度和空间分布具有显著影响。     

基于潜标观测的牛郎海山的深海海流的低频变化特征

本文利用在西太平洋牛郎海山布放的两套锚系潜标获取的长时间海流观测数据,分析了深海的海洋动力环境特征,着重阐释了该海域海流的全水深垂向结构及其低频变化特征。结果表明:（1）年平均海流及其变化幅度均在上层最大、中层和深层次之、中深层最小;（2）年平均上,150 m以浅的海流为东向的副热带逆流,150 m以深和中层为西向流;山顶处的近底层海流为较稳定的弱南向流,山底处的近底层海流为西南向流;（3）在山顶和山底,各深度层次的海流在全年均表现出100 d左右的振荡周期;在2 000 m以浅,各深度层次的海流振荡的位相基本一致,振荡幅度在表层最强、随深度的增加而减小;在2 000 m以深,海流变化的位相与2 000 m以浅相反,振荡幅度在4 000 m最强。     

Carbon and biogenic silica export influenced by the Amazon River Plume: Patterns of remineralization in deep-sea sediments

The Amazon River Plume delivers freshwater and nutrients to an otherwise oligotrophic western tropical North Atlantic (WTNA) Ocean. Plume waters create conditions favorable for carbon and nitrogen fixation, and blooms of diatoms and their diazotrophic cyanobacterial symbionts have been credited with significant CO₂ uptake from the atmosphere. The fate of the carbon, however, has been measured previously by just a few moored or drifting sediment traps, allowing only speculation about the full extent of the plume's impact on carbon flux to the deep sea. Here, we used surface (0.5 m) sediment cores collected throughout the Demerara Slope and Abyssal Plain, at depths ranging from 1800 to 5000 m, to document benthic diagenetic processes indicative of carbon flux. Pore waters were extracted from sediments using both mm- and cm-scale extraction techniques. Profiles of nitrate (NO₃) and silicate (Si(OH)₄) were modeled with a diffusion-reaction equation to determine particulate organic carbon (POC) degradation and biogenic silica (bSi) remineralization rates. Model output was used to determine the spatial patterns of POC and bSi arrival at the sea floor. Our estimates of POC and Si remineralization fluxes ranged from 0.16 to 1.92 and 0.14 to 1.35 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively. A distinct axis of POC and bSi deposition on the deep sea floor aligned with the NW axis of the plume during peak springtime flood. POC flux showed a gradient along this axis with highest fluxes closest to the river mouth. bSi had a more diffuse zone of deposition and remineralization. The impact of the Amazon plume on benthic fluxes can be detected northward to 10°N and eastward to 47°W, indicating a footprint of nearly 1 million km². We estimate that 0.15 Tmol C y⁻¹ is remineralized in abyssal sediments underlying waters influenced by the Amazon River. This constitutes a relatively high fraction (~7%) of the estimated C export from the region.; the plume thus has a demonstrable impact on C_org export in the western Atlantic. Benthic fluxes under the plume were comparable to and in some cases greater than those observed in the eastern equatorial Atlantic, the southeastern Atlantic, and the Southern Ocean.     

The investigation on particulate organic carbon fluxes with disequilibria between thorium-234 and uranium-238 in the Prydz Bay, the Southern Ocean

Dissolved and particulate thorium-234, particulate organic carbon in the upper 150 m of water columns from five stations in the Prydz Bay, the Southern Ocean were determined during the 22nd Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition （from November 2005 to March 2006 ）. The disequilibria between thorium-234 and its parent uranium-238 in upper layer was used to derive the averaged residence time of thorium-234, which decreased along with the latitude to the south and a minimum value, 1 - 8 d for particulate thorium-234 and 29 - 48 d for dissolved thorium-234, appeared at the medium latitude station, and the export fluxes of thorium-234 were calculated too and ＇a maximum value, 0. 35 -0. 63 Bq/（m^3 · d） for the particulate thorium-234 and 0. 44 -0. 65 Bq/ （m^3 ·d） for the dissolved thorium-234, appeared at the same station. The export fluxes of particulate organic carbon at different water columns were derived by two methods with irreversible scavenging model, and the averaged values were 104. 7 mmol/ （ m2 · d ） （ E method） and 120. 6 mmol/（ m2·d ） （ B method ）, respectively, indicating that a relatively high new production would exist in summer in the Prydz Bay where it will play a potential significant role in sequestering the absorption CO2 to deeper ocean.     

西太平洋卡罗琳M4海山区悬浮体分布及其影响因素

海山可以通过与洋流的相互作用改变水体结构,促进悬浮体以及海洋生物的再分配,进而影响海洋生物地球化学过程,促进大洋物质和能量交换。西太平洋有着复杂的环流结构,也是海山分布最多的海区之一。为研究西太平洋海山区的悬浮体分布及其控制机制,2017年夏季在西太平洋卡罗琳M4海山区进行现场调查,利用扫描电镜分析了该海山区悬浮体样品的物质组成及分布,并结合温度、盐度和荧光叶绿素a浓度数据,讨论了海山对悬浮体分布的影响。结果表明,M4海山区的悬浮体由生物碎屑、矿物颗粒和絮凝体等组成。海水的强烈层化阻碍了该海山区下层营养物质的上涌,使上层水体呈现出寡营养的特征,导致大部分站位悬浮体丰度较低;但在海山顶部,潮流和海山地形相互作用在山顶上方形成反气旋环流,不仅促进了深水的营养物质向上扩散,使得荧光叶绿素a浓度升高,同时对平流输送来的以及从深水中上涌的悬浮体起到了滞留作用,使山顶上方的悬浮体丰度远高于离山顶较远的位置。随着水深的增大,温、盐跃层的强度减弱,水体中的营养盐浓度升高,为浮游生物的生长提供了适宜的环境,进而使生物碎屑及絮凝体的丰度升高。北赤道潜流挟带来自西太平洋近岸海区的陆源矿物颗粒到达M4海山区,...     

Three-year assessment of particulate organic carbon fluxes in Amundsen Gulf (Beaufort Sea): Satellite observations and sediment trap measurements

Surface concentrations and vertical fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were assessed in the Amundsen Gulf (southeastern Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean) over the years 2004 to 2006 by using ocean color remote-sensing imagery and sequential sediment traps moored over the ca. 400 m isobath. Environmental conditions (sea ice, wind) and oceanographic variables (temperature, salinity, fluorescence and currents) were investigated to explain the variability of POC data. Annual downward POC fluxes in 2004, 2005 and 2006 cumulated, respectively, to 3.3, 4.2 and 6.0 g C m^?2 yr^?1 at ～100 m depth, and to 1.3, 2.2 and 3.3 g C m^?2 yr^?1 at ～210 m depth. The fraction of settling POC attributable to autochthonous processes occurring at or next to ice break-up was estimated to be 75–84% of the 100 m annual fluxes and to be 61–75% of the 210 m fluxes. Over the three ice-reduced seasons, distinct scenarios between ice conditions, surface POC pools and vertical POC export at 100 m were identified: (1) in 2004, despite a normal ice break-up, a weak primary production was measured and low vertical fluxes were collected as old ice moved across the region; (2) in 2005, a lengthened ice-free period allowed an extended season of surface POC production near-shore, while an intermediate increase of vertical fluxes was recorded offshore; and (3) in 2006, a late ice melt gave rise to a pulsed ice edge bloom and to large vertical fluxes also associated with extra ice-flushed material. Linear regressions of vertical POC fluxes against satellite-derived surface POC concentrations suggested that the pelagic POC retention in the upper 100 m of the Amundsen Gulf ranged from ca. 70% to 90% depending on the timing of ice cover melt. Regardless of the inter-annual variability, the estimated fraction of the surface POC reservoir reaching the 210 m water depth was reduced to ～5%. Therefore, as the Arctic Ocean warms up, our results support the expectation that the increasing extent of the seasonal ice zone will promote the POC pathways that benefit pelagic webs rather than benthic communities.     

Impact of mesoscale eddies on particulate organic carbon flux in the western subarctic North Pacific

The mechanism that controls particulate organic carbon (POC) flux in the deep sea differs depending on the season and sea. The POC produced in the western subarctic North Pacific are known to be transported to the deep sea efficiently, but the direct relationship between the POC flux and physical processes is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of mesoscale eddies on POC flux in the western subarctic North Pacific. The seasonal and interannual variabilities of POC flux were investigated using data from a time-series sediment trap deployed at 4810 m at station K2 (47°N, 160°E) from 2005 to 2018. POC flux was high during May–November, appearing to reflect spring and fall blooms at the ocean surface. POC flux also showed interannual variability, with twelve peaks that were mostly affected by enhanced bloom just before the peak. Nine peaks of the twelve peaks were affected by mesoscale eddies, which enhanced bloom around K2 by extending the area with a high chlorophyll-a concentration along the coastal region into the offshore region, suggesting that mesoscale eddies strongly impact the interannual variability of POC flux at K2.

     

The diffusive component of particulate organic carbon export in the North Atlantic estimated from SeaWiFS ocean color

The diffusive component of the particulate organic carbon (POC) export from the ocean's surface layer has been estimated using a combination of the mixed layer model and SeaWiFS ocean color data. The calculations were carried out for several example sites located in the North Atlantic over a 10-year time period (1998–2007). Satellite estimates of surface POC derived from ocean color were applied as an input to the model driven by local surface heat and momentum fluxes. For each year of the examined period, the diffusive POC flux was estimated at a 200 m depth. The highest flux is generally observed in the spring and fall seasons, when surface waters are weakly stratified. In addition, the model results demonstrate significant interannual and geographical variability of the flux. The highest diffusive POC flux occurs in the northern North Atlantic and the lowest in the subtropical region. The interannual variability of the diffusive POC flux is associated with mixed layer dynamics and underscores the importance of atmospheric forcing for POC export from the surface layer to the ocean's interior.     

Microbial assemblages associated with sinking particles in the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (NE Atlantic Ocean)

Downward fluxes of microbial assemblages associated with sinking particles sampled in sediment traps deployed at nominal depths of 1000 m (trap A), 3000 m (trap B) and 4700 m (trap C) were measured between October 1995 and August 1998 on the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP, NE Atlantic). The goal of the study was to provide detailed information on the microbial contributions to the particulate organic carbon and DNA fluxes. Bacterial fluxes associated with settling particles in the PAP area were generally low and significantly lower than bacterial fluxes reported from the same area during 1989–90. Marked seasonal pulses in the microbial assemblages were observed in all years that were associated with particle flux maxima in April–June. No significant differences were found in microbial fluxes between 1000 and 4700 m depth, but both the bacterial biomass flux and the frequency of dividing bacteria increased with depth, suggesting that organic matter turnover and conversion into bacterial biomass increased in the deeper traps. The structure of microbial assemblages displayed clear changes with increasing depth; the ratios of bacteria to both flagellates and cyanobacteria increased up to 4-fold between 1000 and 4700 m, showing a marked increase in bacterial dominance in the deeper layers of the water column. A parallel increase of the bacterial contribution to particulate organic carbon (POC) and DNA fluxes was observed. Total microbial contribution to the POC flux in the PAP area was about 2%, whereas the contribution of cyanobacteria was negligible. Fluxes of microbial assemblages were significantly correlated with DNA fluxes and on average the bacteria accounted for 5% of DNA fluxes. Data reported here confirm that the “rain” of particulate bacterial DNA may represent an important source of nucleotides for deep-sea bacteria, but also suggests that a much larger pool of detrital DNA is potentially available to deep-sea micro-organisms.     

Seasonal and interannual variability in particle fluxes of carbon,nitrogen and silicon from time series of sediment traps at Ocean Station P, 1982–1993: relationship to changes in subarctic primary productivity

An extended time series of particle fluxes at 3800 m was recorded using automated sediment traps moored at Ocean Station Papa (OSP, 50°N, 145°W) in the northeast Pacific Ocean for more than a decade (1982–1993). Time-series observations at 200 and 1000 m, and short-term measurements using surface-tethered free-drifting sediment traps also were made intermittently. We present data for fluxes of total mass (dry weight), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), biogenic Si (BSi), and particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) in calcium carbonate. Mean monthly fluxes at 3800 m showed distinct seasonality with an annual minimum during winter months (December–March), and maximum during summer and fall (April–November). Fluxes of total mass, POC, PIC and BSi showed 4-, 10-, 7- and 5-fold increases between extreme months, respectively. Mean monthly fluxes of PIC often showed two plateaus, one in May–August dominated by <63 μm particles and one in October–November, which was mainly >63 μm particles. Dominant components of the mass flux throughout the year were CaCO₃ and opal in equal amounts. The mean annual fluxes at 3800 m were 32±9 g dry weight g m⁻² yr⁻¹, 1.1±0.5 g POC m⁻² yr⁻¹, 0.15±0.07 g PON m⁻² yr⁻¹, 5.9±2.0 g BSi m⁻² yr⁻¹ and 1.7±0.6 g PIC m⁻² yr⁻¹. These biogenic fluxes clearly decreased with depth, and increased during “warm” years (1983 and 1987) of the El Niño, Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO). Enhancement of annual mass flux rates to 3800 m was 49% in 1983 and 36% in 1987 above the decadal average, and was especially rich in biogenic Si. Biological events allowed estimates of sinking rates of detritus that range from 175 to 300 m d⁻¹, and demonstrate that, during periods of high productivity, particles sink quickly to deep ocean with less loss of organic components. Average POC flux into the deep ocean approximated the “canonical” 1% of the surface primary production.     

Sinking fluxes of particulate U-Th radionuclides in the East Sea (Sea of Japan)

A record of radionuclide fluxes at a deep marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific Ocean (39°40′N 132°24′ E, Japan Basin, East Sea/Sea of Japan) was obtained from analysis of a 1-year continuous collection of sediment-trap samples. The trap was placed at a depth of 2800 m, 500 m above the sea floor, and the samples were recovered at the end of one year. Concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³²Th, ²³⁰Th and ²²⁸Th were measured in the trapped material. All of the radionuclide fluxes showed seasonal variations that were in phase with the variations in total particle flux, which were shown in earlier work to be closely tied to the primary production in the surface water. The formation of authigenic ²³⁸U appears to be less than in other open ocean regimes. The residence time of particulate thorium isotopes were of the order of a year, resulting in an average settling rate of a meter per day. Comparison of the measured ²³⁰Th_ex flux with that of the theoretical production in the overlying water column yielded about 40% surplus of ²³⁰Th, indicating that lateral advection contributes ²³⁰Th to this sampling site.     

Benthic community responses to pulses in pelagic food supply: North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Time-series measurements of particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) fluxes, sediment community composition, and sediment community oxygen consumption (SCOC) were made at the Hawaii Ocean Time-series station (Sta. ALOHA, 4730 m depth) between December 1997 and January 1999. POC and PN fluxes, estimated from sediment trap collections made at 4000 m depth (730 m above bottom), peaked in late August and early September 1998. SCOC was measured in situ using a free vehicle grab respirometer that also recovered sediments for chemical and biological analyses on six cruises during the 1-year study. Surface sediment organic carbon, total nitrogen and phaeopigments significantly increased in September, corresponding to the pulses in particulate matter fluxes. Bacterial abundance in the surface sediment was highest in September with a subsurface high in November. Sediment macrofauna were numerically dominated by agglutinating Foraminifera fragments with highest density in September. Metazoan abundance, dominated by nematodes was also highest in September. SCOC significantly increased from a low in February to a high in September. POC and PN fluxes at 730 m above bottom were significantly correlated with SCOC with a lag time of ⩽14 days, linking pelagic food supply with benthic processes in the oligotrophic North Pacific gyre. The annual supply of POC into the abyss compared to the estimated annual demand by the sediment community (POC:SCOC) indicates that only 65% of the food demand is met by the supply of organic carbon.