Zooplankton Distribution and Dynamics in a North Pacific Eddy of Coastal Origin: I. Transport and Loss of Continental Margin Species

Zooplankton from coastal/continental margin environments can be transported long distances seaward into the subarctic North Pacific by the large (100–200 km diameter) anticyclonic eddies that form annually in late winter along the eastern margin of the Alaska Gyre. One recurrent region for eddy formation is off the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands (near 52°N 132°W). Eddies from this source region (termed ‘Haida eddies’) propagate westward into open ocean waters during the subsequent 1–3 years, often to about 140°W, occasionally to mid gyre. Each eddy contains a core of anomalously low density water, and produces an upward doming of the sea surface detectable by satellite altimetry, thereby aiding repeated ship-based sampling. The zooplankton community in the eddies is a mixture between shelf/slope species (transported from the nearshore formation region) and subarctic oceanic species (which colonize the eddy from the sides and below). This paper reports sequential observations (late winter, early summer and fall seasons of 2000, and early summer and fall of 2001) of the abundance and distribution of continental-margin zooplankton in the Haida eddies that formed in late winters of 2000 and 2001. Shelf-origin species declined in abundance over time. Species that appeared to have a continental slope origin sometimes declined but sometimes persisted and flourished. Transport and retention within the eddy appeared to be especially effective for species that undergo diel vertical migration. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Skewed Occurrence Frequency of Water Temperature and Salinity in the Subarctic Regions

In a previous paper (Oguma and Nagata, 2002), it was shown that frequency distributions of temperature and salinity in the sea off Sanriku Coast, Japan are skewed, and sometimes observed values exceed m + 5σ (m = mean, σ = standard deviation). This means that, if we apply a 3σ criterion for a range check, many real data would be lost. We have expanded our analysis to the subarctic North Pacific, the subarctic North Atlantic and their surrounding areas, by computing the distributions of skewness and kurtosis. It is found that the region of high positive skewness extends in an east-north-east direction in the Mixed Water Region from off Sanriku, and reaches to about 155°E. A high negative skewness zone is recognized along the southern margin of the Kuroshio Extension. These are thought to be generated by the breaking of the meander of the Kuroshio Extension and subsequent ejection of warm and cold eddies to the north and south, respectively. Other high positive skewness areas are found to the south of Kuril Islands and in the Japan Sea. These are generated due to very sharp vertical gradients of temperature and salinity. The situation in the North Atlantic is very similar to the North Pacific, though the detailed nature is changed due to differences of oceanographic condition. The effect of grid size on the skewed nature of the distribution is also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Export Production in the Subarctic North Pacific over the Last 800 kyrs: No Evidence for Iron Fertilization?

The subarctic North Pacific is a high nitrate-low chlorophyll (HNLC) region, where phytoplankton growth rates, especially those of diatoms, are enhanced when micronutrient Fe is added. Accordingly, it has been suggested that glacial Fe-laden dust might have increased primary production in this region. This paper reviews published palaeoceanographic records of export production over the last 800 kyrs from the open North Pacific (north of ∼35°N). We find different patterns of export production change over time in the various domains of the North Pacific (NW and NE subarctic gyres, the marginal seas and the transition zone). However, there is no compelling evidence for an overall increase in productivity during glacials in the subarctic region, challenging the paradigm that dust-born Fe fertilization of this region has contributed to the glacial draw down of atmospheric CO₂. Potential reasons for the lack of increased glacial export production include the possibility that Fe-fertilization rapidly drives the ecosystem towards limitation by another nutrient. This effect would have been exacerbated by an even more stable mixed layer compared to today. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.

     

Effects of the Anticyclonic Eddies on Water Masses, Chemical Parameters and Chlorophyll Distributions in the Oyashio Current Region

Data from the R/V Mirai cruise (May–June 2000) have been examined to discover how mesoscale processes associated with eddy dynamics direct affect the water masses, the distributions and the vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen, nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon in the western subarctic Pacific. Using maps of the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll and sea-air pCO₂ difference we show that the boundaries of the anticyclone eddies in the study region were composed of high productivity coastal Oyashio water. The coastal waters were wrapped around the anticyclone eddies (thus creating a high productivity belt) and intruded inside of them. Using SeaWifs data we demonstrate that temporal variations in the position and the strength of anticyclone eddies advected the Kuril island coastal high productivity waters to the pelagic part, resulting in temporal variations of the chlorophyll in the Oyashio region. Computed vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen (DO), inorganic carbon (DIC) and silicate show that the anticylonic eddies in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Zone are characterized by enhanced vertical fluxes of the DO and DIC between the upper (σ_θ = 26.7–27.0) and lower (σ_θ = 27.1–27.5) intermediate layer, probably due to the intrusions of the Oyashio waters into the eddies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

North Pacific Intermediate Water: Progress in SAGE (SubArctic Gyre Experiment) and Related Projects

We survey the recent progress in studies of North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) in SAGE (SubArctic Gyre Experiment), including important results obtained from related projects. Intensive observations have provided the transport distributions relating to NPIW and revealed the existence of the cross-wind-driven gyre Oyashio water transport that flows directly from the subarctic to subtropical gyres through the western boundary current as well as the diffusive contribution across the subarctic front. The anthropogenic CO₂ transport into NPIW has been estimated. The northern part of NPIW in the Transition Domain east of Japan is transported to the Gulf of Alaska, feeding the mesothermal (intermediate temperature maximum) structure in the North Pacific subarctic region where deep convection is restricted by the strong halocline maintained by the warm and salty water transport originating from NPIW. This heat and salt transport is mostly balanced by the cooling and freshening in the formation of dense shelf water accompanied by sea-ice formation and convection in the Okhotsk Sea. Intensive observational and modeling studies have substantially altered our view of the intermediate-depth circulation in the North Pacific. NPIW circulations are related to diapycnal-meridional overturning, generated around the Okhotsk Sea due to tide-induced diapycnal mixing and dense shelf water formation accompanied by sea-ice formation in the Okhotsk Sea. This overturning circulation may possibly explain the direct cross-gyre transport through the Oyashio along the western boundary from the subarctic to subtropical gyres. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

北太平洋副热带逆流区中尺度涡旋的统计特征及其分布规律

本文基于卫星高度计得到的全球非线性中尺度涡旋数据集,分析了北太平洋副热带逆流(Subtropical Countercurrent.STCC)区域中尺度涡旋的统计特征,包括其基本特征、空间分布、传播特征、季节和年际变化;给出了该区域涡旋振幅、半径、旋转速度和罗斯贝数的分布直方图,并利用瑞利分布和对数正态分布对其进行了拟合。结果显示,涡旋振幅、半径、旋转速度和罗斯贝数的直方图很好地服从于对数正态分布。此外,通过与北太平洋中涡旋的对比研究,我们发现在STCC区中对数正态分布的拟合效果更好。本研究提高了对STCC区域中尺度涡旋统计特征的认识,明确了其与大洋中涡旋的区别;通过对数正态分布对涡旋特征的拟合,清晰地体现出了其分布规律,这在很大程度上降低了对观测数据的依赖,从而帮助我们更加有效地判断和预测涡旋特征的变化,同时为数值模式中涡旋的参数化提供了依据。     

Basin-scale distribution of NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> and NO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> in the Pacific Ocean

We used more than 25,000 nutrient samples to elucidate for the first time basin-scale distributions and seasonal changes of surface ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) and nitrite (NO₂ ^?) concentrations in the Pacific Ocean. The highest NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ^?, and nitrate (NO₃ ^?) concentrations were observed north of 40°N, in the coastal upwelling region off the coast of Mexico, and in the Tasman Sea. NH₄ ⁺ concentrations were elevated during May–October in the western subarctic North Pacific, May–December in the eastern subarctic North Pacific, and June–September in the subtropical South Pacific. NO₂ ^? concentrations were highest in winter in both hemispheres. The seasonal cycle of NH₄ ⁺ was synchronous with NO₂ ^?, NO₃ ^?, and satellite chlorophyll a concentrations in the western subtropical South Pacific, whereas it was synchronous with chlorophyll-a but out of phase with NO₂ ^? and NO₃ ^? in the subarctic regions.     

Formation of Subtropical Mode Water in a high-resolution ocean simulation of the Kuroshio Extension region

A high-resolution numerical model is used to examine the formation and variability of the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (STMW) over a 3-year period. The STMW distribution is found to be highly variable in both space and time, a characteristic often unexplored because of sparse observations or the use of coarse resolution simulations. Its distribution is highly dependent on eddies, and where it was renewed during the previous winter. Although the potential vorticity fluxes associated with down-front winds can be of the same order of magnitude or even greater than the diabatic ones due to air–sea temperature differences, the latter dominate the potential vorticity budget on regional and larger scales. Air–sea fluxes, however, are dominated by a few strong wind events, emphasizing the importance of short time scales in the formation of mode waters. In the Kuroshio Extension region, both advection and mixing play important roles to remove the STMW from the formation region.     

The role of meso-scale eddies in mixed layer deepening and mode water formation in the western North Pacific

Distributions of mixed layer depths around the centers of anti-cyclonic and cyclonic eddies in the North Pacific Ocean were composited by using satellite-derived sea surface height anomaly data and Argo profiling float data. The composite distributions showed that in late winter, deeper mixed layers were more (less) frequently observed inside the cores of the anti-cyclonic (cyclonic) eddies than outside. This relationship was the clearest in the region of 140°E–160°W and 35°N–40°N, where the temperature and salinity of the deep mixed layers were similar to those of the lighter variety of central mode water (L-CMW). A simple one-dimensional bulk mixed layer model showed that both strong sea-surface heat and momentum fluxes and weak preexisting stratification contributed to formation of the deep mixed layer. These conditions were associated with the anti-cyclonic eddies, suggesting that these eddies are important in the formation of mode waters, particularly L-CMW.     

Seasonal and Interannual Variability in the Distribution of Surface Nutrients and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in the Northern North Pacific: Influence of El Niño

The seasonal and interannual changes in surface nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) were recorded in the North Pacific (30–54°N) from 1995 to 2001. This study focuses on the region north of the subarctic boundary (∼40°N) where there was extensive monthly coverage of surface properties. The nutrient cycles showed large interannual variations in the eastern and western subarctic gyres. In the Alaska Gyre the seasonal depletion of nitrate (ΔNO₃) increased from 8–14 μmol kg⁻¹ in 1995–1999 to 21.5 μmol kg⁻¹ in 2000. In the western subarctic the shifts were similar in amplitude but more frequent. The large ΔNO₃ levels were associated with high silicate depletions, indicating enhanced diatom production. The seasonal DIC:NO₃ drawdown ratios were elevated in the eastern and central subarctic due to calcification. In the western subarctic and the central Bering Sea calcification was significant only during 1997 and/or 1998, two El Ni?o years. Regional C/N stoichiometric molar ratios of 5.7 to 7.0 (>40°N) were determined based on the years with negligible or no calcification. The annual new production (NP_a) based on ΔNO₃ and these C/N ratios showed large interannual variations. NP_a was usually higher in the western than in the eastern subarctic. However, values of 84 gC m⁻²yr⁻¹ were found in the Alaska Gyre in 2000 which is similar to that in the most productive provinces of the northern North Pacific. There were also large increases in NP_a around the Alaska Peninsula in 1997 and 1998. Finally, the net removal of carbon by the biological pump was estimated as 0.72 Gt C yr⁻¹ in the North Pacific (>30°N). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Has the 1998 regime shift also occurred in the oceanographic conditions and lower trophic ecosystem of the Oyashio region?

To examine whether the regime shift in 1998 that has been variously reported to have occurred in the oceanographic conditions of the central and eastern North Pacific also occurred in the Oyashio region, western North Pacific, we compared data over the period 1990–2003. Oceanographic conditions were compared before 1997 with those after 1998, using the A-line dataset (1990–2003) obtained by the oceanographic surveys of the Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency (HNFRI/FRA). Seasonal changes of the monthly-mean SST (as temperature in the surface layer) show a significant increase in spring after 1998. After 1998, the mean concentration of chlorophyll a at the surface was higher in spring than that before 1997. This was more remarkable in the main current of the Oyashio. These changes suggest that the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Oyashio region after 1998 was larger in magnitude and initiated earlier. Consumption of nutrients during the spring bloom and standing stock of netplankton also shows a distinct difference between the time period before 1997 and after 1998. These results support the occurrence of the regime shift around 1998 in the Oyashio region. The changes of hydrographical conditions accompanying with the 1998 regime shift are discussed. The hydrographic mechanism of enhancement of primary productivity during the spring phytoplankton bloom was not fully clarified, though. Results in this study may support the usefulness of the A-line dataset for analysis of long-term variability in the western subarctic Pacific.     

Meridional distribution and carbon biomass of autotrophic picoplankton in the Central North Pacific Ocean during late northern summer 1990

The meridional distribution of autotrophic picoplankton groups in the central north Pacific was studied during the late northern summer of 1990. Sampling was along a section at 175°N which extended from 45°N to 8°S. The section is far from coastal regions and included subarctic, central gyre, and equatorial areas. Five autotrophic picoplankton groups, autotrophic microflagellate, red-fluorescing picoplankton,Synechococcus, prochlorophyte, and orange-fluorescing picoplankton, were identified from samples taken at stations distributed along this section. These five groups showed distinctive differences in their meridional and vertical distributions. The autotrophic microflagellates and red-fluorescing picoplankton showed distributions that were similar to that of chlorophyll a, which was dominated by the <3 μm size fraction. However, the vertical distribution of these groups was different.Synechococcus was found mostly in surface waters (PAR<10%) and was particularly abundant in the Kuroshio Extension and south of the equatorial region where the nitracline was shallow (50–75 m). Prochlorophytes were abundant in the deep euphotic layer (PAR 1-0.1%) from the south of the Kuroshio Extension to the south of the equatorial area. Orange-fluorescing picoplankton, which may be one kind of cyanobacteria but is larger than typical Synechococcus, were mostly distributed in the oligotrophic surface waters of the central gyre. The carbon biomass estimates for these organisms showed that these five groups dominated in different areas. The vertical distribution of carbon biomass did not correspond to that of chlorophyll a in the central gyre and south of the equator because of the larger carbon/ chlorophyll a ratio of Synechococcus and orange-fluorescing picoplankton relative to that of the other picoplankton.     

Chlorophyll distribution and photosynthetic activity in the north and equatorial Pacific Ocean along 155°W

The distribution of chlorophylla and photosynthetic characterestics of phytoplankters were investigated along 155°W between 50°N and 15°S during the KH-69-4 cruise of the R. V. Hakuh Maru (Aug. 12–Nov. 13, 1969). High concentrations of chlorophylla (more than 0.2 mg Chla/m³) were observed above the depths of 150 m at all stations except in 17°N, 5°S and 15°S. North of 20°N, the depths of chlorophyll accumulation shifted from near the surface to 50–100 m with southwards. In the equatorial region, chlorophyll accumulation centered at a depth of about 70 m and ranged vertically between 10 and 150 m. In all cases in the present study area, chlorophyll accumulation occurred within the euphotic zone (above the depth corresponding to 1% of the surface illumination), and except in the subarctic and some equatorial waters, this was usually prevalent in the lower half of the euphotic zone.The photosynthetic activities (initial slope of P vs I curve) of samples from the depths of chlorophyll accumulation were similar to, or lower than, those of shallow samples from the depths of upper half of the euphotic zone. At the depths of chlorophyll accumulation, calculatedin situ photosynthesis was high in the central Pacific and equatorial waters but low in the subarctic waters.     

Photosynthetic community responses to upwelling in mesoscale eddies in the subtropical North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

In this paper we summarise the photo-physiological responses of phytoplankton to upwelling of macronutrients in mesoscale eddies in the subtropical North Atlantic (EDDIES project, Sargasso Sea) and subtropical North Pacific (E-FLUX project, Hawaii). The observations, obtained on two sets of cruises over 2 years, occupied six cyclonic eddies and two mode-water eddies. The photosynthetic physiological parameters were measured using a bench-top fluorescence induction and relaxation (FIRe) system and a submersible in situ fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) deployed on an undulating towed vehicle. Both of these instruments were used to provide highly sensitive and well-resolved data on community responses. The responses are dependent on both the type of eddy and its stage of development. Our results indicate that, while cyclonic eddies in the Atlantic and Pacific can increase primary photosynthetic production early in their development, mode-water eddies in the subtropical North Atlantic can support patchy blooms of large diatoms for long periods of time (more than 3 months).     

2009年秋季闽江下游及闽江口水域叶绿素a含量的分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

根据2009年11月在闽江的多学科综合调查结果,探讨了闽江下游及闽江口水域chl-a含量的分布特征及其与环境因子的关系.chl-a含量分布呈闽江上游水域较低(平均值为3.17μg/dm3),南北两港最高,而后向闽江口逐渐降低的趋势.大樟溪发生水华,chl-a含量高达170μg/dm3,南港chl-a含量最高值为71.4μg/dm3,北港chl-a含量最高值为67.6μg/dm3.闽江北港高含量chl-a区内存在一个低pH、低含量DO区;而南港chl-a含量与盐度、PO4-P含量、DIN含量呈十分显著的负相关关系,与pH、DO含量呈显著的正相关关系;马尾至闽江口水域chl-a含量与盐度、pH、DO含量则呈十分显著的负相关关系,与DIN含量、SiO3-Si含量呈十分显著的正相关关系.北港和南港的高含量chl-a区,分别与北岸福州市污水排放及南部大樟溪高含量chl-a的输入密切相关.     

A study on the distribution of total bacteria,bacterial aggregates and heterotrophic bacteria in the sea

The concentrations of total bacteria, bacterial aggregates and so-called heterotrophic bacteria were compared and discussed with special reference to the watermasses that vertically layered at the western North Pacific central region and the subarctic Pacific region.The concentrations of bacterial aggregates, having cells more than 25, were considerably uniform throughout the ocean depths. This was also shown indirectly by the measurements of size spectrum and organic constituents of particles, especially in the subsurface and deep watermasses. The so-called heterotrophic bacteria decreased in their concentration in deeper watermass, and the decrease was not obvious within each watermass but obvious among watermasses.     

High-West and Low-East Distribution Patterns of Chlorophyll a, Primary Productivity and Diatoms in the Subarctic North Pacific Surface Waters, Midwinter 1996

We have determined chlorophyll a (Chla) concentration, primary productivity, cell density and species composition of diatoms, and the number of microzooplankton at the surface in the subarctic North Pacific in January 1996. The wet weight of copepods obtained by vertical tows from 150 m to the surface was also measured during the cruise. Chla concentration and primary productivity tended to be higher in the region west of 180°, the western subarctic North Pacific (WSNP), than east of 180°, the eastern subarctic North Pacific (ESNP). The same results were observed for the total diatom cell densities and for the genera Thalassiosira and Denticulopsis. Significant linear relationships were observed between the Thalassiosira cell density and Chla concentration and primary productivity, indicating that Thalassiosira contributes to the high-WSNP and low-ESNP distribution patterns of Chla concentration and primary productivity. Moreover, naked ciliate abundance tended to be lower in the WSNP than in the ESNP, whereas copepod biomass showed an inverse trend. Significantly negative Spearman rank correlations were found between the Thalassiosira cell density and the number of naked ciliates and between the number of naked ciliates and the wet weight of copepods. These results indicate that copepod grazing indirectly controls Thalassiosira cell density via predation on the naked ciliates. We conclude that the high copepod biomass in the WSNP is a factor controlling the high-WSNP and low-ESNP Thalassiosira abundance and hence Chla concentration and primary productivity patterns.     

Interdecadal Variation of the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front: A Physical-Biological Model Simulation between 1960 and 1990

The interdecadal climate variability affects marine ecosystems in both the subtropical and subarctic gyres, consequently the position of the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF). A three-dimensional physical-biological model has been used to study interdecadal variation of the TZCF using a retrospective analysis of a 30-year (1960–1990) model simulation. The physical-biological model is forced with the monthly mean heat flux and surface wind stress from the COADS. The modeled winter mixed layer depth (MLD) shows the largest increase between 30°N and 40°N in the central North Pacific, with a value of 40–60% higher during 1979–90 relative to 1964–75 values. The winter Ekman pumping velocity difference between 1979–90 and 1964–75 shows the largest increase located between 30°N and 45°N in the central and eastern North Pacific. The modeled winter surface nitrate difference between 1979–90 and 1964–75 shows increase in the latitudinal band between 30°N and 45°N from the west to the east (135°E–135°W), the modeled nitrate concentration is about 10 to 50% higher during the period of 1979–90 relative to 1964–75 values depending upon locations. The increase in the winter surface nitrate concentration during 1979-90 is caused by a combination of the winter MLD increase and the winter Ekman pumping enhancement. The modeled nitrate concentration increase after 1976–77 enhances primary productivity in the central North Pacific. Enhanced primary productivity after the 1976–77 climatic shift contributes higher phytoplankton biomass and therefore elevates chlorophyll level in the central North Pacific. Increase in the modeled chlorophyll expand the chlorophyll transitional zone and push the TZCF equatorward. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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。