Vertical distribution of bacterial abundance in the northwest pacific ocean

Mixed populations of free-living marine bacteria were collected at depths from the surface to the bottom (1,960m in Suruga Bay and 1,585 m in the Japan Sea) in the northwest Pacific during deep-sea diving by the submersible,Shinkai 2000. Their abundance in total cell counts and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration was found to decrease with increasing depth, and the decreasing profiles were shown to be linear on logarithmic scales. The total cell counts and the LPS concentration showed a linear relationship on arithmetic scales, and the LPS content per cell was found to be 1.02×10^–14 g.     

Vertical synthetic aperture sonar for ocean acoustic tomography

This paper presents the result of a first attempt to achieve a vertical synthetic aperture in the ocean for SOFAR multipath identification. The experiment was conducted during the deployment of a tomographic array in the Mediterranean Sea. Drifting the hydrophone up or down from a ship while listening to the transmitted signal created a powerful synthetic aperture at 400 Hz. Wide-band phase-coded signals, typically used in ocean tomography, were found suitable for this application. The displacement length was 100 m and the hydrophone velocity 1 m/s. The obtained resolution of 1° enabled all the rays in the tested middle range configuration to be resolved and identified. Most of them could not have been resolved with a static hydrophone. Several Doppler processing methods are presented. The narrowband approximation leading to fast algorithms is discussed. Phase time series of individual paths obtained with an array-like wave separation method show that the phase coherence of the different multipaths is nearly perfect. An angle/velocity calibration method and a first rough inversion are finally presented     

Estimation of the oxygen and CO2 mean exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere in key areas of the ocean

Current estimations of gas exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere are based on the concepts about diffusive gas transfer across the interface and about a stationary character of the processes; however, under a strong wind, these concepts are invalid. Transfer equations for gas constitutents of the air are incorporated into a numerical model of a nonstationary upper layer of the ocean. These equations contain the source function—gas transfer by bubbles, which becomes noticeable even at a wind speed of 8–10 m/s. The fluxes of oxygen and CO₂ are calculated at a specified wind speed, dependences of these fluxes on the wind speed are constructed, and estimates for the average annual fluxes are obtained for several areas of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio. A substantial change in the difference of the air-water gas contents under a strong wind, caused by the turbulent exchange growth and appreciably affecting the gas exchange, is noted. The influence of the carbonate system of seawater on the CO₂ transfer during a storm is estimated. The results obtained are compared to the estimates based on the traditional approach.     

Vertical transport in the ocean due to sub-mesoscale structures: Impacts in the Kerguelen region

The summertime phytoplankton bloom near the Kerguelen Plateau is in marked contrast to the low-chlorophyll conditions typical of the Southern Ocean and is thought to arise from natural iron fertilisation. The mechanisms of iron supply to the euphotic zone in this region are poorly understood, and numerical studies of iron transport have until now omitted fine-scale (sub-mesoscale) dynamics which have been shown to significantly increase vertical transport in other parts of the ocean.We present the first sub-mesoscale-resolving study of the flow and vertical transport in this region. The modelled transport and flow structure agree well with observations. We find that an increase in horizontal resolution from mesoscale-resolving (1/20°) to 1/80° resolves sub-mesoscale filamentary frontal structures in which vertical velocities are dramatically higher and are consistent with available observations. Lagrangian tracking shows that water is advected to the surface from much greater depth in the sub-mesoscale-resolving experiment, and that vertical exchange is far more rapid and frequent. This study of sub-mesoscale vertical velocities sets the foundation for subsequent investigation of iron transport in this environment.     

Vertical transport and residence time of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the open ocean water column

The vertical transport of PCBs and chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides such as DDT compounds and HCH (BHC) isomers in the deep sea are discussed on basis of their vertical profiles and the proportion of their adsorbed and dissolved fractions in surface water surveyed in the Western Pacific, Eastern Indian and Antarctic Oceans.All chlorinated hydrocarbons determined were detected with measurable concentrations throughout the water column, even at depths of several thousand meters. The vertical distributions of PCBs and DDT compounds were found to show small variations in concentration throughout the water column, whereas HCH isomer concentrations decreased systematically with depth. A large portion of DDT compounds in surface water was adsorbed on suspended solids, while most of the HCH isomers were present in the filtered water. The proportion of PCBs adsorbed on suspended solids was smaller than the proportion of DDT compounds, but was much greater than that of HCH isomers. These observations suggest that HCH isomers have been slowly scavenged from the surface to the deeper layers in the water column, while PCBs and DDT compounds have been rapidly and abundantly transported downward by sinking particles.The percentages of chlorinated hydrocarbons adsorbed on suspended solids in surface water increased towards the high latitude locations, and the percentage seemed to be proportional to the concentration of suspended solids in the surface water. This implies that the residence time of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the water column will differ significantly among oceans that differ in primary productivity. According to our estimation based on the data presented in this study, the residence time ofHCH in the euphotic zone, the top 100 m of the water column, is more than 2 years, whereas those of PCBs andDDT are less than 1 year. The longest residence time, of from 5 to 10 years, was obtained forHCH in oligotrophic water of the western North Pacific. The shortest value, only 11 to 19 days, was estimated forDDT in the Antarctic Ocean.     

On the possible mechanism of the intensification of the vertical exchange in the ocean during earthquakes

In recent years, some papers reported events of the lowering of the temperature of the sea surface subsequent to earthquakes. This paper is devoted to a discussion of the possible mechanism of the intensification of the mixing of seawater under earthquakes. The possible role of the intensive turbidity flows that are sometimes generated in the near-bottom layer over a sloping bottom subsequent to earthquakes is discussed. The estimates made on the basis of a semiempirical theory of turbulence show that the shear currents caused by these flows can lead to a fast turbulization and mixing of rather thick water layers.     

Vertical structure of the upper ocean from profiles fitted to physically consistent functional forms

A method for characterizing the upper ocean structure is developed. Each temperature (density) profile is fitted by an ideal function based on the assumption that the permanent and seasonal thermoclines can be approximated respectively by steady state and transients of turbulent-diffusive processes and that the mixed layer can advance sharply under external forcing. The ideal profile is composed of two pieces joined at the mixed layer depth (MLD). The upper part is a constant; the part below the MLD is a product of an exponential decay and a Gaussian, representing the seasonal thermocline and decaying asymptotically to a straight line that describes the permanent thermocline. The composition of an exponential decay and a Gaussian accurately fits a wide family of solutions of the diffusion equation and includes the case of a shift of the boundary. The ideal fit for each profile relies on six adjustable parameters including the MLD. As the function is non-linear and non-differentiable, a Differential Evolution optimization algorithm is proposed to make the fitting. The solution gives a good estimate of the MLD based on the topology of the profile. It also provides a measure of the gradient and the shape of each profile, which are intuitive parameters for characterizing the upper ocean structure with direct applicability in ecosystem models. The algorithm is applied to a time series of monthly conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) profiles from a hydrographical station in the southern Bay of Biscay. The construction of a local climatology of the vertical structure evolution (mixed layer development) is presented as a practical application. Other potential uses of the method are also discussed.     

Vertical turbulent exchange in the Black Sea pycnocline and its relation to water dynamics

Estimates of vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient (K _t ) in the Black Sea pycnohalocline have been obtained from data of simultaneous observations of seawater temperature, salinity, density, and horizontal current velocity, obtained in the northeastern part of the Black Sea during 2013–2014 with a moored Aqualog profiler. A Munk and Andersson (1948) type parameterization, adapted for the Black Sea environment, is proposed for calculating K _t . Strong short-period (several days) variability of turbulent exchange is revealed, induced by vertical shear variations of the current velocity.     

Vertical two-dimensional mechanism of tidal exchange in a bay with a sill-entrance

For a vertical two-dimensional field with a sill at a bay entrance, the tidal exchange mechanism is discussed.The schematic model is proposed as follows. The tidal trapping effect which is detected at the entrance section,i. e., the material transport due to the phase difference between the tidal periodic constituent of material concentration and tidal current at the entrance section, results because the oscillatory tidal flow at the sill entrance induces a gravitational flow along the sill slope inside the entrance. Accordingly, the tidal trapping effect depends largely upon the difference in water density between the bay and open sea and the density stratification in the bay.This model is supported by the observations at Kabira Cove (Okinawa Pref.) and Lake Hamana (Shizuoka Pref.) in 1976 through 1984. In addition, based on this model, in the case of Lake Hamana, the activity of the tidal exchange is inferred to change seasonally.     

Geodetic measurements in the ocean

This paper covers the topic of marine geodesy, its goals, and applications. Specifically discussed are position determination and establishment of geodetic control on the ocean bottom, ocean surface, and subsurface, and the determination of the geoid, a vertical reference surface. The various techniques used in position determination (including satellite, airborne, radio, inertial and acoustic techniques) are assessed in terms of accuracy, coverage, and contribution to the solution of specific problems associated with position and control. The results of several marine geodetic control experiments are presented. Classical techniques for the determination of the geoid are discussed and assessed, as are new techniques such as satellite altimetry. The outlook for marine geodetic measurements in the ocean is outlined in terms of what is being planned or considered for the next decade, and several recommendations are made.     

CABARET in the ocean gyres

A new high-resolution Eulerian numerical method is proposed for modelling quasigeostrophic ocean dynamics in eddying regimes. The method is based on a novel, second-order non-dissipative and low-dispersive conservative advection scheme called CABARET. The properties of the new method are compared with those of several high-resolution Eulerian methods for linear advection and gas dynamics. Then, the CABARET method is applied to the classical model of the double-gyre ocean circulation and its performance is contrasted against that of the common vorticity-preserving Arakawa method. In turbulent regimes, the new method permits credible numerical simulations on much coarser computational grids.     

Turbulent dispersion in the ocean

The mathematical framework for turbulent transport in the ocean is reasonably well established. It may be applied to large-scale fields of scalars in the ocean and to the instantaneous or continuous discharge from a point. The theory and its physical basis can also provide an interpretation of passive scalar spectra. Spatial variations in the rate of turbulent transfer can be related to the movement of the center of mass of a scalar and to a formulation in terms of entrainment. The relative dispersion of a scalar with respect to its center of mass and the streakiness of the concentration field within the relative dispersion domain need to be considered. In many of these problems it is valuable to think in terms of simple models for individual streaks, as well as overall statistical properties.     

Lagrangian fronts in the ocean

We introduce the concept of Lagrangian fronts (LFs) in the ocean and describe their importance for analyzing water mixing and transport and the specific features and differences from hydrological fronts. A method of calculating LFs in a given velocity field is proposed. Based on altimeter velocity fields from AVISO data in the northwestern Pacific, we calculate the Lagrangian synoptic maps and identify LFs of different spatial and temporal scales. Using statistical analysis of saury catches in different years according to the Goskomrybolovstvo (State Fisheries Committee of the Russian Federation), we show that LFs can serve as good indicators of places that are favorable for fishing.     

Circulation, exchange and water masses at the ocean margin: the role of physical processes at the shelf edge

The coastal ocean meets the deep sea at the continental shelf edge. Questions of global change entail elucidation of the processes that determine the quantities, transformation and fate of materials transported between the shelf and ocean, the measurement and definition of exchange processes, and the development of prognostic models of exchanges.Physical processes control the large-scale movement and irreversible small-scale mixing of water and its constituents. At the shelf edge, steep bathymetry may inhibit ocean-shelf exchange, but in combination with stratification gives rise to special processes and modelling challenges.A preliminary assessment is made of coastal-trapped waves; along-slope currents, instability and meanders; eddies; upwelling, fronts and filaments; downwelling, cascading; tides, surges; internal tides and waves as potentially influential processes in ocean-shelf exchange, water-mass structure and general circulation, according to their scales and context. For this purpose, theory and previous measurements are interpreted.Future studies needed to improve this assessment are discussed.     

Mercury concentration in the ocean

Seventy percent of 342 seawater samples collected in the Bering Sea, North and South Pacific, Japan Sea, East and South China Seas, and Indian Ocean had concentrations of “total” mercury ranging from 3 to 6 ng Hg l^?1 with an arithmetic mean of 5.3 ng l^?1 and a geometric mean of 5.0 ng l^?1. In some cases, a higher concentration was observed at the surface, at the halocline or thermocline, or in the bottom water. But in general, there was no consistent correlation between mercury concentration and depth, except for a statistical tendency for mercury concentration to be slightly higher in the surface water. This tendency suggests that mercury in the ocean is supplied from the atmosphere by rain washout. The latitudinal variation of surface mercury concentrations showed that the maximum concentration at each latitude decreased from 40°N to 30°S. This variation provides evidence that atmospheric mercury is emitted mainly from continental areas naturally or anthropogenically.     

Particulate organic carbon in the global ocean derived from SeaWiFS ocean color

Satellite remote sensing offers new means of quantifying particulate organic carbon, POC, concentration over large oceanic areas. From SeaWiFS ocean color, we derived 10-year data of POC concentration in the surface waters of the global ocean. The 10-year time series of the global and basin scale average surface POC concentration do not display any significant long-term trends. The annual mean surface POC concentration and its seasonal amplitude are highest in the North Atlantic and lowest in the South Pacific, when compared to other ocean basins. POC anomalies in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and global concentrations seem to be inversely correlated with El Niño index, but longer time series are needed to confirm this relationship. Quantitative estimates of POC reservoir in the oceanic surface layer depend on the choice of what should represent this layer. Global average POC biomass is 1.34 g m^?2 if integrated over one optical depth, 3.62 g m^?2 if integrated over mixed layer depth, and up to 6.41 g m^?2 if integrated over 200-m layer depth (when assumed POC concentration below MLD is 20 mg m^?3). The global estimate of total POC reservoir in the surface 200-m layer of the ocean is 228.61×10¹³ g. We expect that future estimates of POC reservoir may be even larger, when more precise calculations account for deep-water organic-matter maxima in oligotrophic regions, and POC biomass located just below the seasonal mixed layer in spring and summer in the temperate regions.     

Eddy-resolving ocean circulation in the Asian-Australian region inferred from an ocean reanalysis effort

The first global ocean reanalysis with focus on the Asian-Australian region was performed for the period October 1992 to June 2006. The 14-year experiment assimilated available observations of altimetric sea-level anomaly, satellite SST and quality-controlled in situ temperature and salinity profiles from a range of sources, including field surveys and the Argo float array. This study focuses on dominant circulation patterns in the South-East Asian/Australian region as simulated by an eddy-resolving and data-assimilating ocean general circulation model. New estimates of the ocean circulation are provided which are largely in agreement with the limited number of observations. Transports of key currents in the region are as follows: The total (top-to-bottom) annual mean Indonesian Throughflow transport and its standard deviation are 9.7 ± 4.4 Sv from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean with a minimum in January (6.6 Sv) and a maximum in April (12.3 Sv). The Leeuwin Current along the west coast of Australia is dominated by eddy structures with a mean southward transport of 4.1 ± 2.0 Sv at 34°S. Along the southern coast of Australia a narrow shelf edge current known as the South Australian Current advects 4.5 ± 2.6 Sv eastward at 130°E. The South Australian Current converges east of Tasmania with the eddy-rich extension of East Australian Current. At 32°S this current transports 36.8 ± 18.5 Sv southward. A dominating feature of the circulation between north-eastern Australia and Papua-New Guinea is the strong and quasi-permanent Coral Sea Gyre. This gyre is associated with the highly variable Hiri Current which runs along the south coast of Papua-New Guinea and advects 8.2 ± 19.1 Sv into the Western Pacific Ocean. All of these transport estimates are subject to strong eddy variability.     

Estuary/ocean exchange and tidal mixing in a Gulf of Maine Estuary: A Lagrangian modeling study

A Lagrangian particle method embedded within a 2-D finite element code, is used to study the transport and ocean–estuary exchange processes in the well-mixed Great Bay Estuarine System in New Hampshire, USA. The 2-D finite element model, driven by residual, semi-diurnal and diurnal tidal constituents, includes the effects of wetting and drying of estuarine mud flats through the use of a porous medium transport module. The particle method includes tidal advection, plus a random walk model in the horizontal that simulates sub-grid scale turbulent transport processes. Our approach involves instantaneous, massive [O(500,000)] particle releases that enable the quantification of ocean–estuary and inter-bay exchanges in a Markovian framework. The effects of the release time, spring–neap cycle, riverine discharge and diffusion strength on the intra-estuary and estuary–ocean exchange are also investigated.The results show a rather dynamic interaction between the ocean and the estuary with a fraction of the exiting particles being caught up in the Gulf of Maine Coastal Current and swept away. Three somewhat different estimates of estuarine residence time are calculated to provide complementary views of estuary flushing. Maps of residence time versus release location uncover a strong spatial dependency of residence time within the estuary that has very important ramifications for local water quality. Simulations with and without the turbulent random walk show that the combined effect of advective shear and turbulent diffusion is very effective at spreading particles throughout the estuary relatively quickly, even at low (1 m²/s) diffusivity. The results presented here show that a first-order Markov Chain approach has applicability and a high potential for improving our understanding of the mixing processes in estuaries.     

Seasonal variability of the water circulation in the southern ocean and heat, salt, and mass exchange in the Antarctic region and adjacent oceans

The hydrographic fields in the Arctic region are calculated with a three-dimensional nonlinear model of the general circulation in the World Ocean using climatic databases on temperature, salinity, and wind stress. The calculation results show that the seasonal variability of the fields is negligible. The salinity distribution almost does not change from season to season, and slight temperature differences are found only in the upper layer. In the winter period, a moderate intensification of the currents is observed. The formation of an intermediate low-salinity layer is revealed at the Subantarctic front, where the intensive turbulence and transverse circulation in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current near the front result in the sinking of the surface low-salinity waters down to intermediate depths. The low-salinity water propagates in the oceans at intermediate depths northward from the front by advection. The integral values of the seasonal transport of mass, heat, and salt in various sections are presented in tables, and the distributions of appropriate characteristics in these sections are shown in figures. According to the calculations, the highest seasonal variations of heat, salt, and mass exchange in the Antarctic region and adjacent oceans are found in the Atlantic sector.