Shear and Richardson number in a mode-water eddy

Measurements of stratification and shear were carried out as part of the EDDIES tracer release experiment in mode-water eddy A4 during the summer of 2005. These measurements were accomplished using both shipboard instrumentation and a drifting mooring. A strong relationship between shear intensity and distance from the center of the eddy A4 was observed with the shipboard ADCP. Diapycnal diffusivity at the SF₆ tracer isopycnal prior to and during the release was estimated from the drifting mooring to be 2.9×10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹. Diffusivity increased by an order of magnitude to 3.2×10⁻⁵ m² s⁻¹ during the period of the final tracer survey in early September, which was similar to the value estimated from the tracer analysis for the whole experiment (3.5×10⁻⁵ m² s⁻¹, [Ledwell, J.R., McGillicuddy Jr., D.J., Anderson, L.A., 2008. Nutrient flux into an intense deep chlorophyll layer in a mode-water eddy. Deep-Sea Research II, this issue [doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.02.005]].     

Deep penetrating benthic oxygen profiles measured in situ by oxygen optodes

For the first time in situ, deep penetrating O₂ profiles were measured in abyssal sediments in the western South Atlantic. Construction of deep penetrating O₂ optodes and adaptation to a benthic profiling lander are described. The opto-chemical oxygen sensors allow measurements to a depth of 55 cm in marine sediments. A vertical resolution of 0.5 cm was used to determine the O₂ dynamics in those oligotrophic deep sea sediments; the oxygen concentration across the sediment water interface was measured with a resolution of 100 μm. Oxygen penetration depth (OPD), diffusive oxygen uptake (DOU) and oxygen consumption rates were determined at four stations north of the Amazon fan and one at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Diffusive oxygen uptake rates ranged from 0.1 to 0.9 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹; the oxygen penetration depth ranged from 8 to 26 cm. Carbon consumption rates calculated from the diffusive oxygen uptake rates were in the range of 0.3–3.0 g C m⁻² a⁻¹. Comparison between in situ and laboratory DOU and OPD measurements confirmed previous findings that core recovery and warming have strong effects on the oxygen dynamics in deep sea sediments. Laboratory measurements yielded a decrease of 50–75% in OPD and consequently an increase in DOU by 1.5 and 18-times. Deep penetrating oxygen optodes provide a new tool to accurately determine oxygen dynamics (and thereby calculate carbon mineralization rates) in oligotrophic sediments. However, oxygen optodes as used in this study do not resolve the diffusive boundary layer (DBL). The data show that deep penetrating O₂ optodes in combination with high-resolution O₂ microelectrodes give a complete picture of the oxygen dynamics, including the DBL, in deep sea sediments.     

Effects of irradiance on benthic and water column processes in a Gulf of Mexico estuary: Pensacola Bay, Florida, USA

We examined the effect of light on water column and benthic fluxes in the Pensacola Bay estuary, a river-dominated system in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Measurements were made during the summers of 2003 and 2004 on 16 dates distributed along depth and salinity gradients. Dissolved oxygen fluxes were measured on replicate sediment and water column samples exposed to a gradient of photosynthetically active radiation. Sediment inorganic nutrient (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻) fluxes were measured. The response of dissolved oxygen fluxes to variation in light was fit to a photosynthesis–irradiance model and the parameter estimates were used to calculate daily integrated production in the water column and the benthos. The results suggest that shoal environments supported substantial benthic productivity, averaging 13.6 ± 4.7 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, whereas channel environments supported low benthic productivity, averaging 0.5 ± 0.3 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ (±SE). Estimates of baywide microphytobenthic productivity ranged from 8.1 to 16.5 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, comprising about 16–32% of total system productivity. Benthic and water column dark respiration averaged 15.2 ± 3.2 and 33.6 ± 3.7 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively Inorganic nutrient fluxes were generally low compared to relevant estuarine literature values, and responded minimally to light exposure. Across all stations, nutrient fluxes from sediments to the water column averaged 1.11 ± 0.98 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for NH₄⁺, 0.58 ± 1.08 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for NO₃⁻, 0.01 ± 0.09 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ for PO₄³⁻. The results of this study illustrate how light reaching the sediments is an important modulator of benthic nutrient and oxygen dynamics in shallow estuarine systems.     

Buoy measured wind, wind stress and wind stress curl over the shelf off Bodega Bay, California

An array of five buoys and three coastal stations is used to characterize the winds, stress, and curl of the wind stress over the shelf off Bodega Bay, California. The wind and wind stress are strong and persistent in the summer and weak in the winter. In the summer, wind and stress decrease strongly across the shelf, toward the coast. Combinations of buoys are used to compute the curl of the wind stress over different portions of the shelf. The mean summer 2001 curl of the wind stress over the array depends upon the area selected, varying between −1.32×10⁻⁶ and +7.80×10⁻⁶ Pa m⁻¹. The winter 2002 wind-stress curl also depends on location, varying from −2.06×10⁻⁶ to +2.78×10⁻⁶ Pa m⁻¹. Mean monthly curl of the wind stress is a maximum in the summer and a minimum near zero in the winter. In both the summer and the winter, the correlation between the wind-stress curl for different portions of the shelf varies between moderate negative, though insignificance, to high positive. A wind measurement at a single point can be poorly related to the measured curl of the wind stress at other locations over the shelf. The measurements show that the use of one wind measurement to characterize the curl of the wind stress over the shelf without further investigation of the local wind-stress curl structure is risky.     

Microbial photosynthesis in coral reef sediments (Heron Reef, Australia)

We investigated microphytobenthic photosynthesis at four stations in the coral reef sediments at Heron Reef, Australia. The microphytobenthos was dominated by diatoms, dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria, as indicated by biomarker pigment analysis. Conspicuous algae firmly attached to the sand grains (ca. 100 μm in diameter, surrounded by a hard transparent wall) were rich in peridinin, a marker pigment for dinoflagellates, but also showed a high diversity based on cyanobacterial 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Specimens of these algae that were buried below the photic zone exhibited an unexpected stimulation of respiration by light, resulting in an increase of local oxygen concentrations upon darkening. Net photosynthesis of the sediments varied between 1.9 and 8.5 mmol O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ and was strongly correlated with Chl a content, which lay between 31 and 84 mg m⁻². An estimate based on our spatially limited dataset indicates that the microphytobenthic production for the entire reef is in the order of magnitude of the production estimated for corals. Photosynthesis stimulated calcification at all investigated sites (0.2–1.0 mmol Ca²⁺ m⁻² h⁻¹). The sediments of at least three stations were net calcifying. Sedimentary N₂-fixation rates (measured by acetylene reduction assays at two sites) ranged between 0.9 to 3.9 mmol N₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ and were highest in the light, indicating the importance of heterocystous cyanobacteria. In coral fingers no N₂-fixation was measurable, which stresses the importance of the sediment compartment for reef nitrogen cycling.     

N2O Production, Nitrification and Denitrification in an Estuarine Sediment

The mechanisms regulating N₂O production in an estuarine sediment (Tama Estuary, Japan) were studied by comparing the change in N₂O production with those in nitrification and denitrification using an experimental continuous-flow sediment–water system with¹⁵N tracer (¹⁵N-NO−3 addition). From Feburary to May, both nitrification and denitrification in the sediment increased (246 to 716 μmol N m⁻² h⁻¹and 214 to 1260 μmol N m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively), while benthic N₂O evolution decreased slightly (1560 to 1250 nmol N m⁻² h⁻¹). Apparent diffusion coefficients of inorganic nitrogen compounds and O₂at the sediment–water interface, calculated from the respective concentration gradients and benthic fluxes, were close to the molecular diffusion coefficients (0·68–2·0 times) in February. However, they increased to 8·8–52 times in May except for that of NO−2, suggesting that the enhanced NO−3 and O₂supply from the overlying water by benthic irrigation likely stimulated nitrification and denitrification. Since the progress of anoxic condition by the rise of temperature from February to May (9 to 16 °C) presumably accelerated N₂O production through nitrification, the observed decrease in sedimentary N₂O production seems to be attributed to the decrease in N₂O production/occurrence of its consumption by denitrification. In addition to the activities of both nitrification and denitrification, the change in N₂O metabolism during denitrification by the balance between total demand of the electron acceptor and supply of NO−3+NO−2 can be an important factor regulating N₂O production in nearshore sediments.     

Nitrogen dynamics within a wind-driven eddy

Wind-driven cyclonic eddies are hypothesized to relieve nutrient stress and enhance primary production by the upward displacement of nutrient-rich deep waters into the euphotic zone. In this study, we measured nitrate (NO₃⁻), particulate carbon (PC), particulate nitrogen (PN), their stable isotope compositions (δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻, δ¹³C-PC and δ¹⁵N-PN, respectively), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) within Cyclone Opal, a mature wind-driven eddy generated in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands. Sampling occurred in March 2005 as part of the multi-disciplinary E-Flux study, approximately 4–6 weeks after eddy formation. Integrated NO₃⁻ concentrations above 110 m were 4.8 times greater inside the eddy (85.8±6.4 mmol N m⁻²) compared to the surrounding water column (17.8±7.8 mmol N m⁻²). Using N-isotope derived estimates of NO₃⁻ assimilation, we estimated that 213±59 mmol m⁻² of NO₃⁻ was initially injected into the upper 110 m Cyclone Opal formation, implying that NO₃⁻ was assimilated at a rate of 3.75±0.5 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹. This injected NO₃⁻ supported 68±19% and 66±9% of the phytoplankton N demand and export production, respectively. N isotope data suggest that 32±6% of the initial NO₃⁻ remained unassimilated. Self-shading, inefficiency in the transfer of N from dissolved to particulate export, or depletion of a specific nutrient other than N may have led to a lack of complete NO₃⁻ assimilation. Using a salt budget approach, we estimate that dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations increased from eddy formation (3.8±0.4 mmol N m⁻²) to the time of sampling (4.0±0.09 mmol N m⁻²), implying that DON accumulated at rate of 0.83±1.3 mmol N m⁻² d⁻¹, and accounted for 22±15% of the injected NO₃⁻. Interestingly, no significant increase in suspended PN and PC, or export production was observed inside Cyclone Opal relative to the surrounding water column. A simple N budget shows that if 22±15% of the injected NO₃⁻ was shunted into the DON pool, and 32±6% is unassimilated, then 46±16% of the injected NO₃⁻ remains undocumented. Alternative loss processes within the eddy include lateral exchange of injected NO₃⁻ along isopycnal surfaces, remineralization of PN at depth, as well as microzooplankton grazing. A 9-day time series within Cyclone Opal revealed a temporal depletion in δ¹⁵N-PN, implying a rapid change in the N source. A change in NO₃⁻ assimilation, or a shift from NO₃⁻ fueled growth to assimilation of a ¹⁵N-deplete N source, may be responsible for such observations.     

High-resolution measurement of Southern Ocean CO2 and O2/Ar by membrane inlet mass spectrometry

This paper evaluates the simultaneous measurement of dissolved gases (CO₂ and O₂/Ar ratios) by membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) along the 180° meridian in the Southern Ocean. The calibration of pCO₂ measurements by MIMS is reported for the first time using two independent methods of temperature correction. Multiple calibrations and method comparison exercises conducted in the Southern Ocean between New Zealand and the Ross Sea showed that the MIMS method provides pCO₂ measurements that are consistent with those obtained by standard techniques (i.e. headspace equilibrator equipped with a Li–Cor NDIR analyser). The overall MIMS accuracy compared to Li–Cor measurements was 0.8 μatm. The O₂/Ar ratio measurements were calibrated with air-equilibrated seawater standards stored at constant temperature (0 ± 1 °C). The reproducibility of the O₂/Ar standards was better than 0.07% during the 9 days of transect between New Zealand and the Ross Sea.The high frequency, real-time measurements of dissolved gases with MIMS revealed significant small-scale heterogeneity in the distribution of pCO₂ and biologically-induced O₂ supersaturation (ΔO₂/Ar). North of 65°S several prominent thermal fronts influenced CO₂ concentrations, with biological factors also contributing to local variability. In contrast, the spatial variation of pCO₂ in the Ross Sea gyre was almost entirely attributed to the biological utilization of CO_2, with only small temperature effects. This high productivity region showed a strong inverse relationship between pCO₂ and biologically-induced O₂ disequilibria (r² = 0.93). The daily sea air CO₂ flux ranged from − 0.2 mmol/m² in the Northern Sub-Antarctic Front to − 6.4 mmol/m² on the Ross Sea shelves where the maximum CO₂ influx reached values up to − 13.9 mmol/m². This suggests that the Southern Ocean water (south of 58°S) acts as a seasonal sink for atmospheric CO₂ at the time of our field study.     

Sorption model for dissolved and particulate aluminium in the Conway estuary, UK

Dissolved Al carried in river water apparently undergoes a fractional removal at the early stages of mixing in the Conway estuary. On the other hand, dissolved Al behaves almost conservatively in high salinity (>13) estuarine waters. In order to understand the geochemistry of Al in these estuarine waters, simple empirical sorption models have been used. Partitioning of Al occurs between solid and solution phases with a distribution coefficient, K_d, which varies from 0.67 × 10⁵ to 3.38 × 10⁶ ml g⁻¹ for suspended particle concentrations of 2–64 mg l⁻¹. The K_d values in general decrease with increasing suspended particulate matter and this tendency termed the “particle concentration effect” is quite pronounced in these waters. The sorption model derived by previous workers for predicting concentrations of dissolved Al with changing suspended sediment loads has been applied to these data. Reasonable fits are obtained for K_d values of 10⁵, 10⁶ and 10⁷ ml g⁻¹ with various values of α. Further, a sorption model is proposed for particulate Al concentrations in these waters that fits the data extremely well defined by a zone with K_d value 10⁷ ml g⁻¹ and C₀ values 16 × 10⁻⁶ mg ml⁻¹ and 92 × 10⁻⁶ mg ml⁻¹. These observations provide strong evidence of sorption processes as key mechanisms influencing the distribution of dissolved and particulate Al in the Conway estuary and present new insight into Al geochemistry in estuaries.     

Factors influencing benthic bacterial abundance, biomass, and activity on the northern continental margin and deep basin of the Gulf of Mexico

As part of a larger project on the deep benthos of the Gulf of Mexico, an extensive data set on benthic bacterial abundance (n>750), supplemented with cell-size and rate measurements, was acquired from 51 sites across a depth range of 212–3732 m on the northern continental slope and deep basin during the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. Bacterial abundance, determined by epifluorescence microscopy, was examined region-wide as a function of spatial and temporal variables, while subsets of the data were examined for sediment-based chemical or mineralogical correlates according to the availability of collaborative data sets. In the latter case, depth of oxygen penetration helped to explain bacterial depth profiles into the sediment, but only porewater DOC correlated significantly (inversely) with bacterial abundance (p<0.05, n=24). Other (positive) correlations were detected with TOC, C/N ratios, and % sand when the analysis was restricted to data from the easternmost stations (p<0.05, n=9–12). Region-wide, neither surface bacterial abundance (3.30–16.8×10⁸ bacteria cm⁻³ in 0–1 cm and 4–5 cm strata) nor depth-integrated abundance (4.84–17.5×10¹³ bacteria m⁻², 0–15 cm) could be explained by water depth, station location, sampling year, or vertical POC flux. In contrast, depth-integrated bacterial biomass, derived from measured cell sizes of 0.027–0.072 μm³, declined significantly with station depth (p<0.001, n=56). Steeper declines in biomass were observed for the cross-slope transects (when unusual topographic sites and abyssal stations were excluded). The importance of resource changes with depth was supported by the positive relationship observed between bacterial biomass and vertical POC flux, derived from measures of overlying productivity, a relationship that remained significant when depth was held constant (partial correlation analysis, p<0.05, df=50). Whole-sediment incubation experiments under simulated in situ conditions, using ³H-thymidine or ¹⁴C-amino acids, yielded low production rates (5–75 μg C m⁻² d⁻¹) and higher respiration rates (76–242 μg C m⁻² d⁻¹), with kinetics suggestive of resource limitation at abyssal depths. Compared to similarly examined deep regions of the open ocean, the semi-enclosed Gulf of Mexico (like the Arabian Sea) harbors in its abyssal sediments a greater biomass of bacteria per unit of vertically delivered POC, likely reflecting the greater input of laterally advected, often unreactive, material from its margins.     

Tidal time-scale variation in nutrient flux across the sediment–water interface of an estuarine tidal flat

We determined the range of the tidal variations in nutrient flux across the sediment–water interface and elucidated mechanisms of the flux variation in two estuarine intertidal flats (one sand, one mud) in northeastern Japan. Nutrient flux was measured using in situ light and dark chambers, which were incubated for 2 h, 2–6 times per day. Results showed that nutrient concentration in overlying water varied by tide and was also affected by sewage-treated water inflow. The nutrient fluxes responded quickly to the tidal variation in overlying water chemistry and the range of the variation in flux was as large as the seasonal-scale variation reported in previous studies. In the sand flat, salinity increase likely enhanced benthos respiration and led to increases in both O₂ consumption and PO₄³⁻ regeneration under low illumination, while benthic microalgae were likely to actively generate O₂, uptake PO₄³⁻ and suppress PO₄³⁻ release under high illumination (>900 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹). Also in the mud flat, PO₄³⁻ flux was related with O₂ flux, although the range of temporal variation in PO₄³⁻ flux was small. In both the flats, NH₄⁺ flux was always governed by NH₄⁺ concentration in the overlying water; either an increase in NH₄⁺ uptake or a decrease in NH₄⁺ release was observed as the NH₄⁺ concentration rose due to inflow of river water or input of sewage-treated water. Although NO₃⁻ tended to be released in both tidal flats when low NO₃⁻ concentration seawater dominated, their relationship was likely to be weakened under conditions of low oxygen consumption and suppressed denitrification. It is likely that tidal variation in nutrient flux is governed more by the nutrient concentration than other factors, such as benthic biological processes, particularly in the case where nutrient concentration in the overlying water is relatively high and with wide amplitude.     

Resting stages of Tortanus forcipatus (Crustacea, Calanoida) in sediments of Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

The distribution and abundance of viable and non-viable (so-called resting eggs) embryos of the calanoid copepod Tortanus forcipatus were determined in the laboratory by the enumeration of nauplii that emerge from sediments collected in Victoria Harbor (Hong Kong). Sediment cores sliced down to a depth of 37 cm showed the highest number of viable resting eggs near the surface layer (0–5 cm). The number of viable eggs sharply decreased with sediment depth, particularly at the inner harbor stations, although diapause eggs remained viable as deep as 25 cm. ²¹⁰Pb analyses of the sediments indicated that the mean egg age was 4.9 years. The egg mortality of T. forcipatus in the sediments was 0.135 year⁻¹, or 78.22% annual egg survival, calculated by regressing ln (egg density) from sediment age. The range of horizontal distribution of viable resting eggs was 24.25 × 10³–58.90 × 10³ m⁻², with a mean value of 36.8 × 10³ m⁻² over all stations. The accumulation of viable resting eggs that can persist for an extended period of time provided evidence for the existence of an egg bank of T. forcipatus in the sediments of Victoria Harbor.     

Seasonal changes in submarine groundwater discharge to coastal salt ponds estimated using Ra and Ra as tracers

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to coastal southern Rhode Island was estimated from measurements of the naturally-occurring radioisotopes ²²⁶Ra (t_1/2 = 1600 y) and ²²⁸Ra (t_1/2 = 5.75 y). Surface water and porewater samples were collected quarterly in Winnapaug, Quonochontaug, Ninigret, Green Hill, and Pt. Judith–Potter Ponds, as well as nearly monthly in the surface water of Rhode Island Sound, from January 2002 to August 2003; additional porewater samples were collected in August 2005. Surface water activities ranged from 12–83 dpm 100 L^− 1 (60 dpm = 1 Bq) and 21–256 dpm 100 L^− 1 for ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra, respectively. Porewater ²²⁶Ra activities ranged from 16–736 dpm 100 L^− 1 (2002–2003) and 95–815 dpm 100 L^− 1 (2005), while porewater ²²⁸Ra activities ranged from 23–1265 dpm 100 L^− 1. Combining these data with a simple box model provided average ²²⁶Ra-based submarine groundwater fluxes ranging from 11–159 L m^− 2 d^− 1 and average ²²⁸Ra-derived fluxes of 15–259 L m^− 2 d^− 1. Seasonal changes in Ra-derived SGD were apparent in all ponds as well as between ponds, with SGD values of 30–472 L m^− 2 d^− 1 (Winnapaug Pond), 6–20 L m^− 2 d^− 1 (Quonochontaug Pond), 36–273 L m^− 2 d^− 1 (Ninigret Pond), 29–76 L m^− 2 d^− 1 (Green Hill Pond), and 19–83 L m^− 2 d^− 1 (Pt. Judith–Potter Pond). These Ra-derived fluxes are up to two orders of magnitude higher than results predicted by a numerical model of groundwater flow, estimates of aquifer recharge for the study period, and values published in previous Ra-based SGD studies in Rhode Island. This disparity may result from differences in the type of flow (recirculated seawater versus fresh groundwater) determined using each technique, as well as variability in porewater Ra activity.     

Flux of Reduced Sulfur Gases Along a Salinity Gradient in Louisiana Coastal Marshes

Seasonal and diurnal reduced sulfur gas emissions were measured along a salinity gradient in Louisiana Gulf Coast salt, brackish and freshwater marshes. Reduced sulfur gas emission was strongly associated with habitat and salinity gradient. The dominant emission component was dimethyl sulfide (average: 57·3 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) in saltmarsh with considerable seasonal (max: 144·03 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹; min: 1·47 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) and diurnal (max: 83·58 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹; min: 69·59 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) changes in flux rates. Hydrogen sulfide was dominant (average: 21·2 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹, max: 79·2 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹; min: 5·29 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) form in brackishmarsh and carbonyl sulfide (average: 1·09 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹; max: 3·42 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹; min: 0·32 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) was dominant form in freshwater marsh. A greater amount of H₂S was evolved from brackishmarsh (21·22 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) as compared to the saltmarsh (2·46 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹) and freshwater marsh (0·30 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹). Emission of total reduced sulfur gases decreased with decrease in salinity and distance inland from the coast. Emission of total reduced sulfur gases over the study averaged 73·3 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹ for the saltmarsh, 32·1 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹ for brackishmarsh and 2·76 μg S m⁻² h⁻¹ for the freshwater marsh.     

Macrozoobenthic biomass in the Bay of Seine (eastern English Channel)

The benthic biomass values of various trophic groups were studied for the first time at the scale of the entire Bay of Seine (50 × 100 km) in the eastern English Channel. Sampling was carried out before and after the winter of 1999. In both cruises the suspension feeders dominated (66% of the 12 gAFDW m^− 2 in 1998 and 56% of the 10 gAFDW m^− 2 in 1999).The common European ophiuroid Ophiothrix fragilis was the most important contributor to total biomass. The repartition of its patches (sometimes > 20 gAFDW m^− 2) cannot be explained by the environmental parameters recorded (viz., granulometry, organic matter and pigment content).     

Transport Through the Contraction Area in the Little Belt

The Great Belt, the Øresund and the Little Belt connect the central Baltic Sea and the Kattegat. A fixed station was moored in the contraction area in the Little Belt during the period 18–28 July 1995, measuring temperature, salinity and current in two levels, while discharge was measured by the RVDana. The composite Froude number calculated at the fixed station shows that the two layer flow through this area was most often supercritical. The discharges were satisfactorily related to the currents measured at the fixed station, and time-series of transports through the Little Belt were established. When compared to the transports through the Øresund the water transport ratio (Øresund:Little Belt) was found to be 4·4, while the salt transport ratio was found to be 3·0. The resistance of the Little Belt, when considering the differences in sea level from Gedser to Hornbæk, was 1839×10⁻¹² s² m⁻⁵. On the basis of water level and surface salinity measurements made during the period 1931–76, a net discharge of 2300 m³ s⁻¹and a net salt transport of 36 tonnes s⁻¹through the Little Belt from the central Baltic Sea were found.     

Changes in sediment processes across the western Irish Sea front

Sediment characteristics, sediment respiration (oxygen uptake and sulphate reduction) and sediment–water nutrient exchange, in conjunction with water column structure and phytoplankton biomass were measured at five stations across the western Irish Sea front in August 2000. The transition from thermally stratified (surface to bottom temperature difference of 2.3 °C) to isothermal water (14.3 °C) occurred over a distance of 13 km. The influence of the front on phytoplankton biomass was limited to a small region of elevated near surface chlorophyll (2.23 mg m⁻³; 50% > biomass in mixed waters). The front clearly marked the boundary between depositional sediments (silt/clays) with elevated sediment pigment levels (≈60 mg m⁻²) on the western side, to pigment impoverished (<5 mg m⁻²) sand, through to coarse sand and shell fragments on the eastern side. Maximal rates of sedimentary respiration on the western stratified side of the front e.g. oxygen uptake S2 (852 μmol O₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) and sulphate reduction at S1 (149 μmol SO₄²⁻ m⁻² h⁻¹), coupled to significant efflux of nitrate and silicate at the western stations indicate closer benthic–pelagic coupling in the western Irish Sea. Whether this simply reflects the input of phytodetritus from the overlying water column or entrapment and settlement of pelagic production from other regions of the Irish Sea cannot yet be resolved.     

Direct measurements of diapycnal mixing in a fjord reach—Puget Sound's Main Basin

In the spring of 1988, time series of microstructure and ADCP current profiles were collected at four locations in the North Main Basin of Puget Sound, Washington. Depth and time averages of diapycnal diffusivity at the four stations (1.8−67.0×10⁻⁴ m² s⁻¹) were one to three decades above typical open-ocean thermocline levels. The buoyancy frequency-squared N² was near open-ocean levels, but unlike the open-ocean where N²S², finescale shear-squared S² was three to six times N² over significant portions of the water column at two of the stations. The time and space mean of all measurements ( ) is close to inferred vertical eddy diffusivity from a primitive equation model for Puget Sound (K_z=3×10⁻³ m² s⁻¹) (J. Geophys. Res. 96 (1991) 16779). Large time and space variability of K_ρ was found, with differences of inter-station, depth–time means over one decade. A simple scaling argument using the observed K_ρ suggests significant exchange of mass between the layers of the subtidal flow over the basin's residence time. Additionally, measurements show that local mixing may be comparable to volume-weighted sill mixing in modifying the Main Basin's stratification. Both are contrary to the “advective reach” simplification of fjord dynamics. The mixing levels were dominated by the passage of a mid-depth, southward-flowing density intrusion and what we interpret as a strongly advected, non-linear internal tide. These mechanisms elevated profile-averaged K_ρ by more than 10 times background levels, with sustained patches of K_ρ≥1×10⁻² m² s⁻¹. Critical 8-m gradient Richardson numbers (Ri₈<0.25) matching regions of overturns (>20 m) and strong turbulence suggest that shear instabilities dominated the turbulence production, though there was support for double-diffusive convection in the warm core of the density intrusion.     

A regional analysis of new production on the northwest European shelf using oxygen fluxes and a ship-of-opportunity

Seasonal new production (g C m⁻²) estimates obtained from dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentrations in surface waters (5 m depth) along a track between the UK (Portsmouth) and northern Spain (Bilbao) are compared. An oxygen flux method, in combination with a ship of opportunity (SOO), was tested on the northwest European shelf for its value in distinguishing high production in frontal regions. Dissolved oxygen, nitrate and chlorophyll a samples were collected monthly from February to July 2004, alongside continuous autonomous measurements of salinity, temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence. Depth integrated new production estimates for all the individually analysed hydrographic regions of the route were produced.Results from three widely used gas-exchange parameterizations gave seasonal (February–July) new production estimates of 54–68 g C m⁻² for the Ushant region of the western English Channel and 31–40 g C m⁻² for the shelf slope, averaging 24–31 g C m⁻² for the route. This is double the route average obtained using the nitrate assimilation method (17 g C m⁻²) and within the ranges of previous estimates in the same region. The oxygen flux method gave a fivefold enhancement compared to the nitrate method in the Ushant frontal region and a threefold enhancement in the English Channel and shelf break regions. Determining oxygen fluxes to estimate new production may be more reliable than nitrate assimilation in active tidal or frontal regions of shelves where nitrate may be added to the system post-winter through advection or entrainment.