Measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in sea water by high temperature combustion method

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the largest organic carbon reservoir in sea water and plays an imporrant role in the marine carbon cycle and other biogeochemical processes in the ocean. Accurate and precise determinalion of the bOC concentration in sea water is thus a prerequisite for any interpretation of DOC biogeochemistry. A key factor in analytical quality control is an accurate determination of the blank. The assessment and distinction of DOC blanks are essential for the precise measurements of oceanic DOC. The total DOC blank includes instrument and water blanks in the high temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) method. DOC can be measured accurately using the HTCO method only when the instrument blank is correctly distinguished from the total DOC blank and corrected in the sample measurements. Low DOC blanks can be achieved by extensive conditioning of new catalysts and the whole instrument system, whereas instrument blanks can be quantified by subtracting the water blank from the total DOC blank. We have been able to produce low carbon nanopure water [≤2μmol/dm³(C)] and have a low instrumental blank [< 5-6 μmol/dm³(C)] when using the HTCO method. Results of concentrations and distributions of DOC in the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic are oceanographically consistent. Results from DOC measurements on samples from the international DOC methods comparison program further confirmed our low values of both nenopure water and the instrument blank.     

Relationship between the optical properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter and total concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the southern Baltic Sea region

Absorption and fluorescence of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements were performed during three oceanographic surveys in 1994 in the southern Baltic Sea (Polish area of the Baltic Proper). DOC was measured both by high-temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) and low-temperature oxidation (LTO) conventional persulphate methods. CDOM fluorescence was shown to be highly correlated with absorption, with the same regression parameters, despite the seasonal change in different hydrographic conditions and the fluorescence quantum yield variations (1.23 ± 0.07 in April and 0.97 ± 0.12 in September). The results show a good correlation between the optical parameters and DOC although ˜ 70% of the DOC does not display significant absorption in the UV-visible range (350–750 nm). The non-absorbing DOC measured with HTCO method appears unaffected by seasonal changes. Consequently, total DOC can be predicted by optical methods using remote sensing techniques. The non-absorbing DOC measured by LTO method varies from 62% (April) to 76% (September), which implies that there is requirement for estimates on a seasonal basis.     

Determination of the distribution of dissolved organic carbon in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean

During France JGOFS campaign ANTARES 2 (R.V. Marion Dufresne), samples were taken along a section of the 62°E meridian from 49° to 66°S. The high temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) method was used to determine the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The analyses were conducted both on-board ship and after the cruise in the laboratory. Collecting and storing acidified samples for post-cruise analysis induced no significant differences. The use of two separate but identical channels on the carbon analyzer increased the number of samples analysed per day and allowed independent monitoring of the instrument blank and the calibration of the detector response. The mixed layer concentrations of organic carbon varied from about 52 μM C in the Antarctic Divergence (64°S) to about 63 μM C in the Polar Frontal Zone (49°S). Vertical profiles showed a slight, but significant, decrease in organic carbon below the mixed layer, to about 42 μM C below 2000 m across the transect. The homogeneity and low concentration of organic carbon in deep water is consistent with values recently reported for the equatorial Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and supports the evidence for a constant deep water DOC concentration. In addition, this provides a verification of the instrument performance, thus validating observed DOC data trends and allowing a comparison with the ‘modern' DOC literature. In general, the organic carbon concentration in the mixed layer was lower than previously published data of the main ocean basins, which might -reflect the low chlorophyll a concentration (<0.5 μg/l) encountered in this region. Along the 62°E meridian section, organic carbon showed a trend with corresponding measurements of phytoplankton biomass and bacterial production, underlining the dependence of bacterial growth on a pool of ‘freshly' produced DOC. Organic carbon was found to exhibit a weak inverse trend versus apparent oxygen utilization (AOU). This suggests that only a small part of the oxygen consumption is due to the mineralisation of DOC.     

Organic carbon and nitrogen in the northern California current system: comparison of offshore, river plume, and coastally upwelled waters

During the first year of the Northeast Pacific GLOBEC program we examined the spatial distributions of dissolved and particulate organic carbon and nitrogen in the surface waters off the Oregon and Washington coasts of North America. Eleven east–west transects were sampled from nearshore waters to 190 km offshore. Hydrographic data and the distribution of inorganic nutrients were used to characterize three distinct water sources: oligotrophic offshore water, the Columbia River plume, and the coastal upwelling region inshore of the California Current. Warm, high salinity offshore water had very low levels of inorganic nutrients, particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Warm, low salinity water in the Columbia River plume was relatively low in nitrate, but showed a strong negative correlation between salinity and silicate. The river plume water had the highest levels of total organic carbon (TOC) (up to 180 μM) and DOC (up to 150 μM) observed anywhere in the sampling area. Cold, high salinity coastal waters had high nutrient levels, moderate to high levels of POC and particulate organic nitrogen (PON), and low to moderate levels of DOC and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Each of these regions has characteristic C:N ratios for particulate and dissolved organic material. The results are compared to concentrations and partitioning of particulate and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in other regions of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans.     

赤道大洋定常风生环流的理论模型

为了模拟以南、北赤道流、赤道逆流和赤道潜流为特征的赤道流系,从长时间平均的线性化的海水运动方程出发,考虑海水层化、保留经向摩擦作用,利用赤道太平洋中部海区经向流通量不随纬度变化的量阶估计,得到海水密度跃层对赤道风场的响应,即跃层深度的分布规律,然后应用我们已构建的改进Fourier方法求解(由于地转口效应所引入的)变系数的海水运动方程,得到适用于中部赤道太平洋的级数形式的三维流场解。     

南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域溶解有机碳的分布

中国南极科学考察第16航次期间(1999年11月～2000年4月),在南极普里兹湾及邻近海域的不同站位与水深采集海水样品用于溶解有机碳测定,通过高温催化氧化法完成样品的分析.结果表明,在调查期间,南极普里兹湾及其邻近海域各测站上层水体(0～100m)溶解有机碳浓度的变化范围为14.3～181.1μmol/dm3,平均为52.5μmol/dm3,该变化幅度比Ross海、太平洋等海域的相应值略大.溶解有机碳垂直分布的特征是0大于25大于50大于100m,即随深度的增加溶解有机碳浓度逐渐减小,与生物活动在垂直方向上的强弱变化相关.根据200m以深水柱溶解有机碳的垂直分布,可确定研究海域难降解溶解有机碳的浓度为40.4μmol/dm3,与其他研究所报道的数值(～42μmol/dm3)相近.上层水体(0～100m)过剩溶解有机碳的空间分布显示,64°S以北海域溶解有机碳过剩较多,而64°S以南海域则过剩溶解有机碳较少.溶解有机碳浓度与分布特征显示,普里兹湾及其邻近海域溶解有机碳浓度与南大洋其他海域相当,具有低溶解有机碳的一般特征.溶解有机碳浓度的空间分布呈现由西南向东北方向逐渐增加的趋势,这可能与南极陆架夏季上层水的北向扩展有关.生物活动及水体运动是研究海域溶解有机碳分布的主要影响因素.     

Export flux of particles at the equator in the western and central Pacific ocean

Export of particles was studied at the equator during an El Nin˜o warm event (October 1994) as part of the French ORSTOM/FLUPAC program. Particulate mass, carbon (organic and inorganic) (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) export fluxes were measured at the equator in the western and central Pacific during two 6–7 day-long time-series stations located in the warm pool (TS-I at 0°, 167°E) and in the equatorial HNLC situation (TS-II at 0°, 150°W), using drifting sediment traps deployed for 48 h at four depths (between, approximately, 100 and 300 m).The particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes at the base of the euphotic zone (0.1 % light level), were approximately four times lower at TS-I than at TS-11 (4.1 vs. 17.0 mmol C m^-2 day^-1). Conversely, fluxes measured at 300 m were similar at both sites (3.6vs. 3.7 mmol C m⁻² day⁻¹ at TS-I and TS-11, respectively). This change in export fluxes was in good agreement with food-web dynamics in the euphotic zone characterized by an increase in plankton biomasses and metabolic rates and a shift towards larger size from TS-1 to TS-II. The POC flux profiles indicated high remineralization (up to 78%) of the exported particles at TS-II, between 100 and 200 m in the Equatorial Undercurrent. According to zooplankton ingestion estimates from 100 – 300 m, 60% of this POC loss could be accounted for by zooplankton grazing. At TS-I, no marked increase of flux with depth was observed, and we assume that loss of particles was compensated by in-situ particle production by zooplankton. Fluxes of particulate nitrogen and phosphorus followed the same general patterns as the POC fluxes. The elemental and pigment composition of the exported particles was not very different between the two stations. In particular, the POCYN flux molar ratio at the base of the euphotic zone was low, 6.9 and 6.2 at TS-1 and TS-II, respectively.For particulate inorganic carbon (mainly carbonate) flux, values at the base of the euphotic zone averaged 0.9 mmol C m-2 day-1 at TS-I and 2.3 mmol C m-2 day-1 at TS-11 (corresponding to a 2.6-fold increase) and showed low depth changes at both stations.POC export flux (including active flux associated with the interzonal migrants) at the 0.1 % light level depth represented only 8% of primary production (1°C uptake) measured at TS-1 and 19% at TS-II. For the time and space scales considered in the present study, new primary production, as measured by the 15N method, was in good agreement with the total export flux in the HNLC situation, thus leading to negligible dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or nitrogen (DON) losses from the photic zone. Conversely, export flux was found to be only 50% (C units) and 60% (N) of new production in the oligotrophic system, either because of an overestimation by the 15N method or of a significant export of DOC and DON.Comparison with other oceanic regions shows that export flux in the warm pool was within the same range as in the central gyres. On the other hand, comparison with EgPac data in the central Pacific suggests that there is no straightforward relation between the magnitude of the export and surface nitrate concentrations.     

Dissolved and particulate organic carbon in hydrothermal plumes from the East Pacific Rise, 9°50′N

Chemoautotrophic production in seafloor hydrothermal systems has the potential to provide an important source of organic carbon that is exported to the surrounding deep-ocean. While hydrothermal plumes may export carbon, entrained from chimney walls and biologically rich diffuse flow areas, away from sites of venting they also have the potential to provide an environment for in-situ carbon fixation. In this study, we have followed the fate of dissolved and particulate organic carbon (DOC and POC) as it is dispersed through and settles beneath a hydrothermal plume system at 9°50′N on the East Pacific Rise. Concentrations of both DOC and POC are elevated in buoyant plume samples that were collected directly above sites of active venting using both DSV Alvin and a CTD-rosette. Similar levels of POC enrichment are also observed in the dispersing non-buoyant plume, ∼500 m downstream from the vent-site. Further, sediment-trap samples collected beneath the same dispersing plume system, show evidence for a close coupling between organic carbon and Fe oxyhydroxide fluxes. We propose, therefore, a process that concentrates POC into hydrothermal plumes as they disperse through the deep-ocean. This is most probably the result of some combination of preferential adsorption of organic carbon onto Fe-oxyhydroxides and/or microbial activity that preferentially concentrates organic carbon in association with Fe-oxyhydroxides (e.g. through the microbial oxidation of Fe(II) and Fe sulfides). This potential for biological production and consumption within hydrothermal plumes highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the role of the carbon cycle in deep-sea hydrothermal systems as well as the role that hydrothermal systems may play in regulating global deep-ocean carbon budgets.     

Water masses and hydrography in the tropical Pacific during Japanese Pacific Climate Study '91 cruise

Hydrographic measurements by CTD were made in the western-central Equatorial Pacific (160°W–147°E) during the Japanese Pacific Climate Study cruise in January–February 1991. InT-S diagram, three water masses are seen in the layer of kg/m³: salinity water corresponding to the Tropical Water of eastern South Pacific origin, less saline water in the North Pacific, and water with salinity between the above two, found on the equator. In three meridional sections (160°W–160°E), the Tropical Water of eastern South Pacific origin extends further equatorward than the climatological data of Levitus (1982).     

Comparative Late Pleistocene Paleoceanographic Changes in the Mid Latitude Boreal and Austral Western Pacific

Middle latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres of the western Pacific are the sensitive areas for the climatic change. We reconstruct the variation in primary productivity to evaluate the shift of the transition zone between the central water mass and cold water in the both hemispheres. In cores S2612 and LH3166, which are located around boreal and austral 35 degree, the mean C_Organic/N atomic ratios are 7.8 and 7.2, respectively. Therefore it is suggested that organic matter is mainly of marine origin (excluding the middle Stage 6 to Stage 7 with the high C_Organic/N atomic ratios in core LH3166). Primary productivities estimated from these cores in the middle latitudes of the western Pacific during the late Pleistocene demonstrate similar profiles. Maxima are observed at late Stage 2, late Stage 4 (middle Stage 4 for L3187) and late Stage 6 while minimum values were observed at Stage 5. Mass accumulation rates of organic carbon and biogenic opal also show similar profiles in these cores. These results and paleontological evidence show that the transition zone between Subtropical and subarctic waters almost synchronously migrated along the latitudinal transection during the last 150 kyr.     

Accumulation and Export of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Surface Waters of Subtropical and Tropical Pacific Ocean

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in surface waters of the Pacific Ocean during October–November, 1995, were determined using a high-temperature combustion method. The DOC in the surface mixed-layer was approximately homogeneous with a concentration between 55 and 89 μmol C l⁻¹. This homogeneity indicates that there is a strong control of the vertical distribution of DOC by mixing processes. The DOC concentrations in the mixed-layer in the subtropical region were up to 27 μmol C l⁻¹ higher than in the tropical region. This difference reflects the subtropical accumulation and the tropical export of DOC. There is a significant positive correlation between DOC and chlorophyll a concentrations in the mixed-layer of the North Pacific subtropical region, suggesting that phytoplankton is the primary source of DOC accumulated in this region. Calculations using simple box models suggest that DOC export in the tropical region (0–50 m depth, 10°N-10°S, along 160°W) occurs primarily by poleward advection at a rate of 0.5–3 mmol C m⁻²day⁻¹. A comparison with estimates of the export rate of particulate organic carbon published in previous studies leads us to conclude that DOC export may contribute less to the carbon budget in the tropical region than has recently been supposed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Distribution of dissolved organic carbon in and near the Prydz Bay, Antarctica

INTRODUCTIONDissolvedorganiccarbon (DOC)makesupthesecondlargestofthebioactivepoolsofcar bonintheocean ,secondtothelargestpoolofdissolvedinorganiccarbon .Theglobaldissolvedorganiccarbonpoolisestimatedtobe 6 85Gt,avaluecomparabletothemassofCO2 intheat mosphere (Hedges,1 992 ) .Thesizeofthereservoir,aswellasitsdynamics ,indicatesthatDOCplaysacentralroleintheoceancarboncycle .AsitrelatestogreenhousegasessuchasCO2 andassociatesclimatecycle ,oceanicDOCbiogeochemicalcycleshavebeenoneoftheh…     

Seasonal Investigations of Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in the Tamar Estuary, U.K.

A high temperature catalytic oxidation (HTCO) technique was used to measure dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during seasonal surveys of the Tamar Estuary, U.K. At the time of the programme, the field of DOC analysis had been plagued by numerous analytical difficulties. However, using thorough calibration of the analytical systems and the systematic analysis of an internal reference material, a valuable estuarine DOC data set was produced. The range of DOC concentrations observed (478–110 μM C) is consistent with the published data for riverine and coastal sea waters respectively. The Tamar Estuary is a freshwater DOC-dominated system, with strong correlation between lateral DOC distribution and salinity. However, mixing behaviour was not strictly conservative. During tidal cycle studies at a fixed station, DOC concentrations appeared to be uncoupled from salinity, and were inversely related to turbidity. It is concluded that tidally-induced resuspension of bottom sediments provided the dominant control mechanism for DOC concentration. The Tamar Estuary shows contrasting behaviour to the larger, more heavily impacted, Severn Estuary. Hence it is likely that the behaviour of DOC in estuaries cannot be classified as typical per se, but is a function of the natural and anthropogenic characteristics of the catchment and hydrology.     

Dissolved organic carbon variability in a shallow coastal marine system (Gulf of Trieste,northern Adriatic Sea)

The variability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) over days to a multi-year time span has been investigated in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) over a period of 5 years (January 1999 to December 2003). Samples were collected in a grid of 9 to 12 stations on monthly frequency and in one station on weekly (2003) and daily (1-month) frequency. DOC samples were analyzed by the HTCO method. DOC concentration varied over the five years in the range of 50 to 194 μM with annual median values ranging from 88 to 98 μM. Over the years 1999–2002, DOC showed a clear annual periodicity with winter minima and late summer maxima, higher in 1999 and 2000. During 2003 no seasonality was detected. The absence of DOC seasonality and the lower DOC concentrations during 2003 are most likely related to the drought that characterized the whole year. Accumulation was calculated as the difference between averaged winter minima (59 ± 7 μM) and the monthly averaged integrated value. DOC that had accumulated from spring to summer totally disappeared from the water column in winter when DOC concentrations reached the background value. The Gulf of Trieste, as with the rest of the Northern Adriatic each year, seems to be able to bring back DOC concentrations at low levels despite the significant external (mainly Isonzo River inputs) and internal organic matter loads. DOC concentration exhibited quite wide fluctuations weekly and daily, suggesting there might be DOC of different turnover time through production, consumption, migration and accumulation.     

Latitudinal Distribution of CO2 Fugacity along 175°E in the North Pacific in 1992–1996

In order to examine latitudinal distribution and seasonal change of the surface oceanic fCO₂, we analyzed the data obtained in the North Pacific along 175°E during the NOPACCS cruises in spring and summer of 1992–1996. Except for around the equator where the fCO₂ was significantly affected by the upwelling of deep water, the latitudinal distribution of fCO₂ showed distinctive seasonal variation. In the spring, the fCO₂ decreased and then increased going southward with the minimum value of about 300 µatm around 35°N, while in the summer, the fCO₂ displayed high variability, showing minimum and maximum values at latitudes of around 44° and 35°N, respectively. It was also found that the fCO₂ was well correlated with the SST, but the relationship between the two was different for different hydrographic regions. In the subpolar gyre, the frontal regions between the Water-Mass Front and the Kuroshio bifurcation front, and between the Kuroshio bifurcation front and the Kuroshio Extension current, SST, DIC and TA influenced the seasonal fCO₂ change through seasonally-dependent biological activities and vertical mixing and stratification of seawater. In the central subtropical gyre and the North Equatorial current, the seasonal fCO₂ change was found to be produced basically by changes in SST and DIC. The summertime oceanic fCO₂ generally increased with time over the period covered by this study, but the increased rate was clearly higher than those expected from other measurements in the western North Pacific.     

热带中东太平洋海域10°N断面水团分析

本文基于实测温盐数据等资料,利用水团的浓度混合分析等方法,揭示了热带中东太平洋海域10°N断面的水团构成自上而下分别为东部赤道–热带水团、北太平洋中央水团、加利福尼亚流系水团、南太平洋中央水团、太平洋亚北极水团和太平洋深层水团。分析发现,受热带辐合带影响,9°～10°N海域常年持续的正风应力旋度诱发上升流出现,北太平洋中央水团、加利福尼亚流系水团、南太平洋中央水团和太平洋亚北极水团4个通风潜沉水团经向运动至该纬度带时被抽吸至次表层和中层,并散布在不同深度。以往研究仅指出上述4个水团在海表通风形成后将潜沉并向赤道方向运动,本研究进一步阐明了4个水团潜沉后向热带海域运动的动力机制及其在热带中东太平洋10°N断面的散布深度。研究成果揭示了热带中东太平洋水团与北太平洋副热带、亚极地和南太平洋副热带海区中上层水团间的循环过程,对认识北太平洋高–中–低纬度间物质和能量的交换和再分配具有重要科学价值。     

冬季黄东海溶解有机碳的分布特征

于2007-01-02对黄东海溶解有机碳(DOC)进行采样并用高温催化氧化法进行测定,分析了其质量浓度和平面分布特征。结果表明,DOC的质量浓度范围为0.440～2.491mg/L,平均质量浓度为(0.967±0.284)mg/L;DOC的平面分布呈现近岸高外海低的特征,近岸高值主要集中在长江口以南海域,主要受陆源输入的影响;外海DOC高值区主要集中在28°N以南,126°E以西的海域,来源于浮游植物的初级生产;东海东南部为DOC的低值区,主要受贫营养的黑潮水控制。垂直方向上,DOC由表到底变化较小,表层和10m层受生物活动影响质量浓度相对较高,底层高值主要来自于沉积物再悬浮的作用。     

Analysis of marine DOC using a dry combustion method

As part of a continuing effort to verify and improve measurements of marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC), we combusted dried sea salts + adhered organic matter to assay DOC concentrations in representative samples from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Combustions were performed overnight at 580 °C in sealed tubes, and oxidation of organic materials occurred via a novel mechanism, thermal sulfate reduction: 2H₂SO₄ + CH₂O → 2SO₂ + 3H₂O + CO₂Measured DOC concentrations ranged from 43 to 114 μM C, with highest values observed in inshore surface samples from Woods Hole Harbor, and lowest values observed in twelve deep offshore Atlantic and Pacific waters. Stable carbon isotope values determined for all samples were near − 22%., consistent with a predominantly marine phytoplankton origin for DOC. A seasonal study in Woods Hole Harbor showed no significant temporal trend in nearshore DOC concentrations. Problems associated with sample storage and contamination during drying steps prevented highly precise (± 1 μM) DOC concentration determinations; however, an improved drying and measurement system is outlined (Appendix A) for possible future dry-combustion studies of DOC concentrations.     

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.     

Modeling of El Niño events using a simple model

In this paper, we present the results of modeling of El Niño events using a simple model of a classical oscillator with decay under external forcing. The sea surface temperature in the East Pacific and the mean thermocline depth in the Equatorial Pacific correspond to the roles of the momentum and position, respectively. The external forcing of the system is determined by two factors: the short-period meridional mass fluctuations in the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean due to the joint effect of the atmospheric variability over the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, bottom topography, and coastlines; and the variability of western winds in the tropics. Under such conditions, oscillations of El Niño type arise in the model as a result of propagation of signals generated in the Southern Ocean (due to the fluctuations of meridional transport fluxes and the variability of western winds in the tropics). These signals propagate over the Equatorial Pacific as fast wave processes. It is shown that external forcing is the main factor in establishing the oscillation pattern of the model characteristics variability.