Variability of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea in 1995

INTRODUCTIONTherearemanyresearchworksabbottheKUrOShioVTanditSSeaSOnalvacationintheEastChinaho(GUan,1988;Nishizawaetal.,1982;TangandTaShiro,1993;SunandKaneko,1993;Yuanetal.,1990;Yuanetal.,1993;Yuanetal.,1994;Yuanetal.,1995;LiuandYuan,1997a,b).~previou...     

1992年东海黑潮的变异

基于1992年4个航次的水文调查资料,运用改进逆方法计算了东海黑潮的流速、流量和热通量．计算结果表明：（1）PN断面黑潮在春季和秋季都有两个流核,冬季和夏季则只有一个流核．主核心皆位于坡折处．Vmax值春季最大,冬季和夏季次之,而秋季最小．黑潮以东及以下都存在逆流．（2）TK断面黑潮在冬季为两核,春、夏季为3核．海峡南端及海峡深处存在西向逆流．（3）通过A断面的对马暖流Vmax值在秋季最大,冬季最小．黄海暖流位于其西侧,相对较弱．（4）通过PN断面净北向流量夏季最大,秋季最小,而冬、春季介于上述二者之间,1992年四季平均值为28．0×106m3/s;TK断面的净东向流量也是在夏季最大;A断面净北向流量则在秋季最大．（5）PN断面4个航次的平均热通量为2．03×1015W．TK断面3个航次的平均热通量为2．00×1015W．（6）在计算海区,冬、春和秋季都是由海洋向大气放热;夏季则从大气吸热．冬季海面上热交换率最大,而夏季热交换率最小．关键词##4东海;;黑潮;;季节变化     

1993和1994年东海黑潮的变异

基于“长风丸”1993～1994年共8个航次的水文调查资料,采用改进逆方法计算了东海黑潮的流速、流量和热通量.计算结果表明:(1)PN断面黑潮流速在秋季时均呈双核结构;而在其他季节,有时为单核,有时为双核;黑潮主核心皆位于坡折处.黑潮以东及黑潮以下都存在南向逆流.(2)TK断面较复杂,可出现单、双或三核结构.在吐噶喇海峡中部、北部出现流核的机率较高.海峡南端及海峡深处都存在西向逆流,而且海峡南端的逆流在秋季较强.(3)在A断面,对马暖流核心位于陆坡上,但有时偏西或偏东.Vmax值的变动范围为26～46cm/s.黄海暖流位于其西侧,流速则相对减小.(4)东海黑潮流量在这两年中,在春季均出现最小值,在夏季出现最大或较大值.黑潮流量,以PN断面为例,每年四季平均流量值1994年与1993年几乎相同,但略小于1992年的平均流量值.8个航次中通过PN、TK断面的平均净流量分别为27.1×106和25.0×106m3/s.(5)8个航次中,通过PN、TK断面的热通量的平均值分别为1.99×1015和1.78×1015W.(6)在计算海域秋季和冬季均是由海洋向大气放热;夏季则均从大气吸热;春季则不确定.海面上热交换率在冬季最大,而春、夏季较小.     

2002年4～5月琉球群岛两侧海流的研究

基于日本气象厅“长风丸”调查船在2002年4～5月航次期间的CTD资料,结合卫星风场资料,采用改进逆方法计算了琉球群岛两侧海域各断面的流速和流量分布,并分析卫星跟踪浮标资料和同期的卫星高度计资料,得出下面一些主要结论:(1)黑潮流速在PN断面上只有一个流核.通过断面PN的净东北向流量约为34.7×106m3/s,此流量包括台湾暖流、东海黑潮和黑潮以东的反气旋涡的流量.(2)黑潮流速在断面TK上有两个流核,通过断面TK净东向的流量为25.6×106m3/s,黑潮通过海峡后流向断面ASUKA.(3)冲绳岛东南海区琉球海流的流量约为8.8×106m3/s,并流向断面AM.(4)奄美大岛以东的北向海流的流量为12.7×106m3/s,并流向断面ASUKA.在断面ASUKA东南部出现一个中尺度反气旋涡,直径约240 km,其流量约为28.5×106m3/s.(5)四国以南黑潮第一层水体基本来源于通过吐噶喇海峡的黑潮,第二、三层水体来自吐噶喇海峡和奄美大岛以东海域的流量大致相当,而第四层的流量则主要来自于奄美大岛以东海域.(6)浮标资料显示,奄美大岛以东的海流部分来自于断面AM以东海区,并通过断面ASUKA.     

厦门湾水体中颗粒有机碳的垂向输出通量:234Th/238U不平衡的应用

对厦门湾塔角附近海域某站位叶绿素 a、POC、初级生产力、234Th/238U不平衡进行的周日变化研究表明,POC含量介于14.4～34.6 mmol/m3之间,其中碎屑有机碳与活体有机碳所占份额分别为74%～92%和8%～26%.POC垂直分布呈现由表及底降低的趋势,且白昼期间POC含量高于晚间,说明研究海域POC含量与生物过程具有密切联系.初级生产力水平在1d之中变化达5倍,垂直分布亦随深度增加而降低,与叶绿素a的变化相对应.短时间(2h)培养获得的初级生产力水平明显高于长时间培养(24 h)的结果,证实部分新固定的碳被优先呼吸排出.结合234Th/238U不平衡法获得的颗粒态234Th输出通量及输出界面颗粒物中的POC/P_Th比值,可计算出真光层 POC的垂向输出通量为16.0mmol/(m2·d),其中碎屑有机碳与活体有机碳贡献的数量分别为13.3和2.7mmol/(m2·d).POC输出通量与初级生产力的比值(ThE比值)平均为0.31,真光层POC停留时间平均为11d.上述结果与Aksnes和Wassmann[1]的模型计算结果相吻合,但与其他大多数模型的结果仍存在一定的差异.     

Variability of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea in 1992

INTRODUCTIONMostofpreviousstudiesshowthatthedynamicmethodswereoftenusedtocomputethevelocityandVToftheKuroshiointheEastChinaSea(Guan,1988;Nishizawaetal.,1982;SunandKaneko,1993).Duringrecentyearsdifferentkindsofinversemethodshavebeentriedby*ThisprojectwassupportedbytheNationalNaturalScienceFoundationofChinaundercontractNo.49776287.1.Secondinstituteofoceanography,StateOceanicAdministration,Hangzhou310012,ChinaYuanetul(1988,1991,1992a,1992b,1993,1994,1995).Theircalculatedresultsshowt…     

234 Th示踪法测定北太平洋西北海域冬季真光层中颗粒态有机碳输出通量

讨论了1997年冬季在北太平洋西北海域7个站位的表层至200m水深水柱中溶解及颗粒态234Th,颗粒态有机碳(POC)、氮(PON)及叶绿素a浓度的垂直分布剖面.溶解态、颗粒态及总的234Th的放射性在真光层中显著低于母体238U的放射性,总的234Th放射性在水深大于100m时趋于平衡.利用234Th-238U在海洋表层海水中的放射性不平衡推导出了北太平洋西北海域冬季真光层海水中234Th的平均停留时间和输出通量以及颗粒态有机碳和有机氮的输出通量.在亚北极环流区溶解态234Th的停留时间为40~50d,而在黑潮-亲潮共同影响区为20d左右.颗粒态有机碳和有机氮从真光层的输出通量范围分别为3.8~8.2和0.50~0.98mmol/(m2·d),西部海区高于东部海区,南部海区高于北部海区.在黑潮-亲潮共同影响区较高的颗粒态有机碳输出通量表明光照量及陆源营养盐物质的提供是两个决定生产力的主要因素.叶绿素a的水深分布和POC/PON的值同Redfield的比值的一致性表明这个海区的冬季颗粒物主要由浮游植物构成.北太平洋西北海域在冬季的颗粒有机碳输出通量可高于世界大洋一些海区春、夏季的颗粒有机碳输出通量.     

The Kuroshio East of Taiwan and in the East China Sea and the currents East of Ryukyu Islands during early summer of 1996

Using hydrographic data and moored current meter records and the ADCP observed current data during May–June 1996, a modified inverse method is applied to calculate the Kuroshio east of Taiwan and in the East China Sea and the currents east of Ryukyu Islands. There are three branches of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan. The Kuroshio in the East China Sea comes from the main (first) and second branches of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan. The easternmost (third) branch of the Kuroshio flows northeastward to the region east of Ryukyu Islands. The net northward volume transports of the Kuroshio through Section K₂ southeast of Taiwan and Section PN in the East China Sea are 44.4×10⁶ and 27.2×10⁶ m³s⁻¹, respectively. The western boundary current east of Ryukyu Islands comes from the easternmost branch of the Kuroshio east of Taiwan and an anticyclonic recirculating gyre more east, making volume transports of 10 to 15×10⁶ m³s⁻¹. At about 21°N, 127°E southeast of Taiwan, there is a cold eddy which causes branching of the Kuroshio there.     

2000年东海黑潮和琉球群岛以东海流的变异Ⅰ.东海黑潮及其附近中尺度涡的变异

基于日本“长风丸”调查船在2000年5个航次水文资料及同时期QuikSCAT风场资料,采用改进逆方法计算了东海黑潮的流速与流量等,获得了这5个航次期间的主要结果:(1)在东海海区风速1~2月比其他月份时大,风海流也最强.只在7月表层风海流为北向,加强了黑潮流速.(2)表层最低盐度值夏季时最小,1~2月时最大.这再次表明,夏季时长江冲淡水向东北方向扩散,冬季时基本上向南,其他季节在上述两者之间.(3)PN断面流速结构及其变化:黑潮流核在1~2,10和11月时有两个,在4和7月皆只有1个.黑潮主流核在1月位于计算点9,在4,7,10与11月都位于计算点8,即向陆架方向移动.(4)黑潮在TK断面出现多流核结构特性.11月主流核出现在TK断面中部,存在于水深大于1 200 m区域,其余月份主流核皆出现在TK断面北部,存在于深度400m以浅水层.(5)通过PN断面的净东北向流量在11月最大,为28.1×106m3/s,7月时其次,10月时最小,为24.6×106m3/s.通过PN断面的净东北向流量年平均值为26.4×106m3/s.(6)1~2,4,7与10月在PN断面以东都出现暖的、反气旋式涡,10月份时,反气旋式涡最强.只在11月时出现弱的、气旋式涡.黑潮以东反气旋涡加强时,黑潮流量似乎减小(例如10月);相反,当黑潮以东反气旋涡减弱(例如7月)或者代之出现气旋涡时(例如11月),黑潮流量似乎增大.10和11月在PN断面附近流态的比较,揭示了环流变化较大,这进一步表明,黑潮和其附近中尺度涡的相互作用是重要的.(7)通过TK断面的净东向流量,11月最大,7月其次,10与1~2月最小.通过TK断面净东向流量年平均值为21.9×106m3/s.(8)通过A断面的北向流量在1~2与4月较大,分别为3.5×106与3.1×106m3/s,7月最小.通过A断面的年平均北向流量约为2.7×106m3/s,这表明,在2000年1~2与4月通过对马暖流的流量最大,7月时最小.     

2002年春季吕宋海峡海流:观测与改进逆模式计算

基于2002年春季航次在吕宋海峡海域锚碇测流站(20°49'57"N,120°48'12"E)200,500与800m处锚碇测流以及CTD观测,采用改进逆方法对调查海域进行海流计算.(1)主要观测的结果:1)在200m处,观测期间海流平均速度为(47.4cm/s,346°).在500m处,海流观测期间平均速度为(20.3cm/s,350°).这些都表明黑潮在吕宋海峡锚碇测流站200和500m处向西北方向入侵南海.2)在800m处,海流观测期间平均速度为(1.2cm/s,35°),它的方向为东北向.比较每层实测流结果,表明800m层海流状况与200和500m层流况不同.3)在观测期间,200,500和800m处,日平均流速在4月皆比3月时要强.4)在调查海区西部的中间区域存在一个高密、冷水中心(HDCW),其中心位置位于断面A的水文站3附近.5)在调查海区东南区域存在一个低密、暖水(LDWW)中心,其中心位置位于断面B的水文站8附近.(2)主要计算结果:1)通过断面B的偏北方向与偏南方向的流量分别为32.48×106m3/s(包括反气旋涡的流量)与3.34×106m3/s.因此通过断面B的净北向流量为29.14×106m3/s.2)通过断面A的东向与西向的流量分别为16.71×106m3/s与8.57×106m3/s(包括气旋涡的流量).因此,通过断面A的净东向流量为8.14×106m3/s.3)通过断面M北向的净流量为24.68×106m3/s.4)黑潮通过断面M后分为主流和一个支流,其主流,流量为16.54×106m3/s,流向断面C的东部分.主流通过断面C的东部分后,最后流向台湾以东海域.而其一个分支,净流量为8.14×106m3/s,在一个高密、冷水中心(HDCW)的区域以东作气旋式弯曲,然后向西北方向通过断面C的西部.因此,黑潮在断面C有两个流核.5)比较计算得到的在锚碇测流站M附近流方向与在200与500m处观测流方向为西北向,它们甚为一致.6)在断面B西侧位于550m以深水层南海水可能缓慢地从西北流向东南,通过断面B的南向流量大约为3.34×106m3/s.     

海洋酸化对海水青鳉胚胎骨骼发育的影响

本文在实验室模拟近期海洋酸化水平,对海洋酸化对海水青鳉鱼(Oryzia melastigma)胚胎骨骼发育的影响进行了初步研究。实验中,通过往实验水体中充入一定浓度CO2气体酸化海水。对照组CO2分压为450×10-6,两个处理组CO2浓度分别为1 160×10-6和1 783×10-6,对应的水体pH值分别为8.14,7.85和7.67。将海水青鳉鱼受精卵放入实验水体中至仔鱼孵化出膜,对初孵仔鱼经骨骼染色、显微拍照,挑取了仔鱼头部、躯干及尾部骨骼染色清晰的28个骨骼参数的长度进行了显微软件测量及数据统计分析。结果发现,酸化处理对实验鱼所测量的骨骼长度影响均不显著。因此推测,未来100~200年间海洋酸化对海水青鳉鱼的胚胎及初孵仔鱼的骨骼发育没有显著影响。     

1997年夏季西北太平洋环流模拟

采用1997年7月中日副热带环流合作调查资料,即“向阳红14”号、“东方红”两调查船CTD观测资料、日本TK和IK断面资料以及GTSPP同步资料,应用开边界情形的MOM2模式计算了西北太平洋21.875°～35.125°N,120.875°～137.125°E范围的环流,主要结果如下:在此期间,(1)黑潮在台湾以东并不存在东分支流向琉球群岛以东海域;(2)东海黑潮的流量约为30×106m3/s,日本以南黑潮流量最大约为70×106m3/s;(3)在21.875°～25°N之间大约有15×106m3/s的流量向西流去.速度分布与流函数分布均表明这一支向西的海流大约在冲绳岛西南分为3支,主要分支转向东北沿冲绳岛以东海域向东北流去;(4)琉球海流主要来自上述西向海流.     

Stable carbon isotope distribution of particulate organic matter in the ocean: a model study

The stable carbon isotopic composition of particulate organic matter in the ocean, δ¹³C_POC, shows characteristic spatial variations with high values in low latitudes and low values in high latitudes. The lowest δ¹³C_POC values (−32‰ to −35‰) have been reported in the Southern Ocean, whereas in arctic and subarctic regions δ¹³C_POC values do not drop below −27‰. This interhemispheric asymmetry is still unexplained. Global gradients in δ¹³C_POC are much greater than in δ¹³C_DIC, suggesting that variations in isotopic fractionation during organic matter production are primarily responsible for the observed range in δ¹³C_POC. Understanding the factors that control isotope variability is a prerequisite when applying δ¹³C_POC to the study of marine carbon biogeochemistry. The present model study attempts to reproduce the δ¹³C_POC distribution pattern in the ocean. The three-dimensional (3D) Hamburg Model of the Oceanic Carbon Cycle version 3.1 (HAMOCC3.1) was combined with two different parametrizations of the biological fractionation of stable carbon isotopes. In the first parametrization, it is assumed that the isotopic fractionation between CO₂ in seawater and the organic material produced by algae, _P, is a function of the ambient CO₂ concentration. The two parameters of this function are derived from observations and are not based on an assumption of any specific mechanism. Thus, this parametrization is purely empirical. The second parametrization is based on fractionation models for microalgae. It is supported by several laboratory experiments. Here the fractionation, _P, depends on the CO₂ concentration in seawater and on the (instantaneous) growth rates, μ_i, of the phytoplankton. In the Atlantic Ocean, where most field data are available, both parametrizations reproduce the latitudinal variability of the mean δ¹³C_POC distribution. The interhemispheric asymmetry of δ¹³C_POC can mostly be attributed to the interhemispheric asymmetry of CO₂ concentration in the water. However, the strong seasonal variations of δ¹³C_POC as reported by several authors, can only be explained by a growth rate-dependent fractionation, which reflects variations in the cellular carbon demand.     

The study of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea and the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands

In this study, the inverse method is used to compute the Kuroshio in the East China Sea and southeast of Kyushu and the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands, on the basis of hydrographic data obtained during September-October, 1987 by R/V Chofu Maru. The results show that: (1)A part of the Taiwan Warm Current has a tendency to converge to the shelf break; (2) the Kuroshio flows across the section C3 (PN) with a reduced current width, and the velocity of the Kuroshio at the section C3 increases and its maximum current speed is about 158 cm/s, and its volume transport here is about 26×106m3/s; (3) the Kuroshio has two current cores at the sections C3 (PN) and B2 (at the Tokara Strait); (4) the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands are found to flow northward over the Ryukyu Trench during September-October, 1987. The velocities of the currents are not strong throughout the depths. At the section C2 east of the Ryukyu Islands, the maximum current speed is at the 699 m levei and its magnitude is 25 cm/s, and i     

The Kuroshio east of Taiwan and the currents east of the Ryūkūy-guntōduring October of 1995

On the basis of hydrographic data obtained during two October cruises of 1995, a modified inverse method is used to compute the Kuroshio east of Taiwan and the currents east of the Ryukyu-gunto.The net northward volume transport(VT) of the Kuroshio through Section TK₂-K₂ southeast of Taiwan is about 57.8×10⁶ m³/s.There are four current cores of the Kuroshio at Section TK₂-K₂.Its main core is near the south of Taiwan, and its maximum speed is about 257 cm/s at the surface.After the Kuroshio flows through Section TK₂-K₂, there are three branches of the Kuroshio.The main branch of the Kuroshio flows northward into Section TKa east of Su''ao.The second branch of the Kuroshio flows northward through Section TKa and then enters the East China Sea through the region between Yonakunijima and Iriomote-shima.The net northward VT of the Kuroshio through Section TK4 is about 21.6×10⁶ m³/s.The eastern branch of the Kuroshio flows northeastward through the region between a stronger cyclonic eddy and a recirculating anticyclonic gyre, and then flows continuously northeastward to the region east of the Ryūkyū-guntō and becomes a part of the origin of the western boundary current east of the Ryūkyū-guntō.Another part of the origin of the western boundary current east of the Ryūkyū-guntō comes from a recirculating anticyclonic gyre.From the above, in the regions east of Taiwan end east of the Ryūkyū-guntō the pattern of circulation during October of 1995 differs from the pattern of circulation during early summer of 1985.There are several eddies of different scales in this computational region.For example, there is a meso-scale stronger cyclonic eddy whose center is located at about 23°N, 124°20''E.     

Variability in plankton community structure, metabolism, and vertical carbon fluxes along an upwelling filament (Cape Juby, NW Africa)

The variability in dissolved and particulate organic matter, plankton biomass, community structure and metabolism, and vertical carbon fluxes were studied at four stations (D₁–D₄), placed along a coastal-offshore gradient of an upwelling filament developed near Cape Juby (NW Africa). The filament was revealed as a complex and variable system in terms of its hydrological structure and distribution of biological properties. An offshore shift from large to small phytoplankton cells, as well as from higher to lower autotrophic biomass, was not paralleled by a similar gradient in particulate (POC) or dissolved (DOC) organic carbon. Rather, stations in the central part of the filament (D₂ and D₃) presented the highest organic matter concentrations. Autotrophic carbon (POC_Chl) accounted for 53% (onshore station, D₁) to 27% (offshore station, D₄) of total POC (assuming a carbon to chlorophyll ratio of 50), from which nano- and pico-phytoplankton biomasses (POC_{A < 10 μm}) represented 14% (D₁) to 79% (D₄) of POC_Chl. The biomass of small hetrotrophs (POC_{H < 10 μm}) was equivalent to POC_{A < 10 μm}, except at D₁, where small autotrophs were less abundant. Dark community respiration (R_d) in the euphotic zone was in general high, almost equivalent to gross production (P_g), but decreasing offshore (D₁–D₄, from 108 to 41 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹). POC sedimentation rates (POC_sed) below the euphotic zone ranged from 17 to 6 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹. Only at D₄ was a positive carbon balance observed: P_g−(R_d + POC_sed) = 42 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹. Compared to other filament studies from the NE Atlantic coast, the Cape Juby filament presented lower sedimentation rates and higher respiration rates with respect to gross production. We suggest that this is caused by the recirculation of the filament water, induced by the presence of an associated cyclonic eddy, acting as a trapping mechanism for organic matter. The export capacity of the Cape Juby filament therefore would be constrained to the frequency of the interactions of the filament with island-induced eddies.     

The effect of horizontal Coriolis force on internal wave-mean flow interaction

-In this paper, an improvement and revision of the theory of Miiller (1974, 1976), has been made under two conditions: (1) the horizontal component of the Coriolis force has been taken into account in the equations of motion for the internal wave field; and (2) the role of internal waves with frequencies close to the inertial frequency has been considered. The values of the viscosity coefficients and the diffusivity coefficients obtained in this paper are: Theappearance of the cross-diffusion (vc) of momentum is a natural result from the effect of the horizontal Coriolis force. Therefore the role of the horizontal shear of the mean flow cannot be absolutely separated from that of the vertical shear. So far in testing Muller's theory, the approximation of effective wave stress obtained by Ruddick and Joyce (1979) was extensively used, but it has to be revised under the conditions of this paper. The revised approximation shows that the internal waves with low frequencies close to the inertial frequency pl     

An isotopic perspective on the correlation of surface ocean carbon dynamics and sea ice melting in Prydz Bay (Antarctica) during austral summer

The stable carbon isotope composition of particulate organic carbon (δ¹³C_POC) and naturally occurring long-lived radionuclide ²²⁶Ra (T_1/2=1600 a) were applied to study the variations of upper ocean (<100 m) carbon dynamics in response to sea ice melting in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica during austral summer 2006. Surface δ¹³C_POC values ranged from −27.4‰ to −19.0‰ and generally decreased from inner bay (south of 67°S) toward the Antarctic Divergence. Surface water ²²⁶Ra activity concentration ranged from 0.92 to 2.09 Bq/m³ (average 1.65±0.32 Bq/m³, n=20) and increased toward the Antarctic Divergence, probably reflecting the influence of ²²⁶Ra-depleted meltwater and upwelled ²²⁶Ra-replete deep water. The fraction of meltwater, f_i, was estimated from ²²⁶Ra activity concentration and salinity using a three-component (along with Antarctic Summer Surface Water, and Prydz Bay Deep Water) mixing model. Although the fraction of meltwater is relatively minor (1.6–11.9%, average 4.1±2.7%, n=20) for the surface waters (sampled at ~6 m), a positive correlation between surface δ¹³C_POC and f_i (δ¹³C_POC=0.94×f_i−28.44, n=20, r²=0.66, p<0.0001) was found, implying that sea ice melting may have contributed to elevated δ¹³C_POC values in the inner Prydz Bay compared to the open oceanic waters. This is the first time for a relationship between δ¹³C_POC and meltwater fraction to be reported in polar oceans to our knowledge. We propose that sea ice melting may have affected surface ocean δ¹³C_POC by enhancing water column stability and providing a more favorable light environment for phytoplankton photosynthesis, resulting in drawdown of seawater CO₂ availability, likely reducing the magnitude of isotope fractionation during biological carbon fixation. Our results highlight the linkage of ice melting and δ¹³C_POC, providing insights into understanding the carbon cycling in the highly productive Antarctic waters.     

Particulate organic carbon export fluxes and size-fractionated POC/234Th ratios in the Ligurian,Tyrrhenian and Aegean Seas

Measurements of ²³⁴Th/²³⁸U disequilibria and particle size-fractionated (1, 10, 20, 53, 70, 100 μm) organic C and ²³⁴Th were made to constrain estimates of the export flux of particulate organic C (POC) from the surface waters of the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian and Aegean Seas in March–June 2004. POC exported from the surface waters (75–100 m depth) averaged 9.2 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas (2.3±0.5–14.9±3.0 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹) and 0.9 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in the Aegean Sea. These results are comparable to previous measurements of ²³⁴Th-derived and sediment-trap POC fluxes from the upper 200 m in the Mediterranean Sea. Depth variations in the POC/²³⁴Th ratio suggest two possible controls. First, decreasing POC/²³⁴Th ratios with depth were attributed to preferential remineralization of organic C. Second, the occurrence of maxima or minima in the POC/²³⁴Th ratio near the DCM suggests influence by phytoplankton dynamics. To assess the accuracy of these data, the empirical ²³⁴Th-method was evaluated by quantifying the extent to which the ²³⁴Th-based estimate of POC flux, P_POC, deviates from the true flux, F_POC, defined as the p-ratio (p-ratio=P_POC/F_POC=S_Th/S_POC, where S=particle sinking rate). Estimates of the p-ratio made using Stokes’ Law and the particle size distributions of organic C and ²³⁴Th yield values ranging from 0.93–1.45. The proximity of the p-ratio to unity implies that differences in the sinking rates of POC- and ²³⁴Th-carrying particles did not bias ²³⁴Th-normalized POC fluxes by more than a factor of two.     

Carbon dioxide flux techniques performed during GasEx-98

A comprehensive study of air–sea interactions focused on improving the quantification of CO₂ fluxes and gas transfer velocities was performed within a large open ocean CO₂ sink region in the North Atlantic. This study, GasEx-98, included shipboard measurements of direct covariance CO₂ fluxes, atmospheric CO₂ profiles, atmospheric DMS profiles, water column mass balances of CO₂, and measurements of deliberate SF₆–³He tracers, along with air–sea momentum, heat, and water vapor fluxes. The large air–sea differences in partial pressure of CO₂ caused by a springtime algal bloom provided high signals for accurate CO₂ flux measurements. Measurements were performed over a wind speed range of 1–16 m s⁻¹ during the three-week process study. This first comparison between the novel air-side and more conventional water column measurements of air–sea gas transfer show a general agreement between independent air–sea gas flux techniques. These new advances in open ocean air–sea gas flux measurements demonstrate the progress in the ability to quantify air–sea CO₂ fluxes on short time scales. This capability will help improve the understanding of processes controlling the air–sea fluxes, which in turn will improve our ability to make regional and global CO₂ flux estimates.