Observation of the bottom boundary layer on the continental shelf

Current meter data from various depths near the sea bottom collected for 31 days at time intervals of 10 minutes using a subsurface buoy system at a depth at 38 m on the continental shelf off Akita, Japan have been analyzed. The results show the existence of a stationary Ekman layer. The typical range of the characteristic parameters are estimated as follows; friction velocity: 0.38 cm s^–1; Ekman layer thickness: 16 m; logarithmic layer thickness: 4 m–6 m; constant flux layer thickness: 0.4–0.6 m; Ekman veering: 28.7°; drag coefficient: 0.24×10^–2–0.53×10^–2. Veering was also observed in the logarithmic layer.     

Path and volume transport of the Kuroshio current in Sagami Bay and their relationship to cold water masses near Izu Peninsula

The path of the Kuroshio in Sagami Bay was surveyed through drifter tracking from Oshima-West Channel to Oshima-East Channel. A subsurface drifter with a drogue at 300 m depth flowed around Oshima from Oshima-West Channel to Oshima-East Channel. A difference in flow directions between the upper and lower layers was apparent in the northwest of Oshima. Flow directions there were shown to change from north in the surface layer to east in the bottom layer, and this was confirmed with moored currentmeters.A profile of northward current velocity was estimated from measurements in six layers with currentmeters deployed in the Oshima-West Channel. The profile shows a core of northward flow along the eastern bottom slope and a weak southward flow along the western bottom slope. Volume transport of the Kuroshio into Sagami Bay was estimated to be 1.8×10⁶m³sec^–1 from the profile.Long-term current measurement showed that southward flows were observed in Oshima-West Channel in July 1977, May 1978 and April 1979. Cold or warm water masses appearing south of the Izu Peninsula are suggested to have caused the changes.Displacement of the cold water mass in July 1977 is discussed on the basis of current measurements and offshore oceanographic conditions.     

Total amount of oceanic excess CO2 taken from the North Pacific subpolar region

Concentrations of total carbonate, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen were obtained near the 1973 GEOSECS stations in the North Pacific subpolar region north of 40°N along 175°E between 1993 and 1994. A difference of excess CO₂ content between the GEOSECS and our expeditions was estimated. The maximum difference in water column inventory of excess CO₂ has increased by about 280 gC m^–2 above 2000 m depth which apparently means an uptake of excess CO₂ taken from air to sea during the last two decades. An averaged value of the annual flux of excess CO₂ at 75–1000 m depth was 8.63±2.01 gC m^–2yr^–1 in the North Pacific subpolar region. By introducing the annual flux of excess CO₂ into a two-box model for the North Pacific subpolar region, a penetration factor of excess CO₂ from air to sea was obtained to be 1.08×10^–2 gC m^–3ppm^–1 in the North Pacific subpolar region. Based on this factor, the surface concentration of excess CO₂ in the North Pacific subpolar region was estimated to be 68 mole I^–1, suggesting that the North Pacific subpolar region absorbed atmospheric excess CO₂ more than the saturated concentration of excess CO₂. Total amount of excess CO₂ taken from the North Pacific subpolar region by 1993 was estimated to be 36.2×10¹⁵ gC, which was equal to about one tenth of that released by human activities after the preindustrial era.     

An estimate of the vertical diffusivity of the deep water

A simple advection-diffusion model is applied to the deep water of the North Pacific Ocean. The physical mixing parameter, i.e., the ratio of vertical advection velocity (W) to vertical eddy diffusivity (D), is obtained from the vertical distribution of a conservative property such as salinity. The rate of decomposition of organic matter is estimated from the oxygen consumption rate which is obtained from dissolved oxygen content. The calcium carbonate flux in the deep water is obtained from alkalinity. Using these values and the vertical distribution of a radioisotope,¹⁴C or²²⁶Ra, the vertical eddy diffusivity and the upwelling velocity are found to be 1.2 cm²/sec and 1.4 ×10^–5 cm/sec, respectively, at the Geosecs 1969 station. The oxygen consumption rate at 3 km depth of the station is found to be 1.4×10^–3ml/l/yr.     

Vertical residual flow in Kasado Bay

Some observations were carried out to understand the structure of the vertical residual flow in Kasado Bay. The results of current measurements at three points in the lower layer indicated that a horizontal counterclockwise tidal residual circulation converges in the lower layer. The velocity of upward residual flow was estimated to be about 4.5×10^–3 cm s^–1. The distributions of water temperature, salinity and grain size in the sediment support the existence of this upward motion.     

Major contribution from mesopelagic plankton to heterotrophic metabolism in the upper ocean

Measurements of plankton respiration and heterotrophic bacterial abundance and production were made at seven deep water stations within the upper 500 m of the Gulf of Mexico during the summer of 1995. Bacterial abundance [(1.1–4.6)×108 1⁻¹] and rates of bacterial production (2–19 nM C h⁻¹) and plankton respiration (50–245 nM O₂ h⁻¹) decreased with depth by four- to nine-fold, and were similar to those reported for oligotrophic waters. Bacterial turnover times increased with depth from approximately 1 to 5 days. Bacterial growth efficiencies decreased from 15% at the surface to 8% at 500 m. Depth-integrated plankton respiration exceeded known estimates of primary production for the region, suggesting that heterotrophic utilization of previously and concurrently produced organic matter (e.g. spring phytoplankton growth, and summer blooms of Trichodesmium sp.) was occurring during the summer. Estimates for the upper 500 m showed that roughly half of the bacterial biomass (56%), bacterial production (49%), and plankton respiration (60%) occurred below the euphotic zone. Routine oceanographic studies have focused exclusively on the metabolic activity occurring within the euphotic zone. Our measurements, however, indicate that mesopelagic plankton also contribute substantially to heterotrophic metabolism and nutrient cycling in the ocean.     

Characteristics of the eddy caused by Izu-Oshima Island and the Kuroshio branch current in Sagami Bay,Japan

Direct current measurements of the branch current of the Kuroshio intruding into Sagani Bay were carried out during 1989–1990 in order to clarify the frequency characteristics of the eddies in the lee of Izu-Oshima Island, which are well recognized as cold water mass produced by upwelling. Satellite and ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) data indicated that current velocity in the eddy fluctuates with periods of 2–4 days and 6–8 days.When the Kuroshio branch current intruding into Sagami Bay from the western channel is weak and its velocity at the depth of 400 m is approximately 10 cm s^–1, the 6–8 day period fluctuation is dominant. On the other hand, when the branch current strongly intrudes from the western channel with a velocity of approximately 20 cm s^–1, the 2–4 day period fluctuation dominates. The relationship between the periods and velocities agrees well with theory based on laboratory experiments for a flow of a homogeneous fluid past a circular obstacle. These periods correspond to the time scale of appearance of the eddy caused by the intrusion of the Kuroshio branch current into Sagami Bay and Izu-Oshima Island.     

Measurements of the water-following capability of holey-sock and TRISTAR drifters

Since 1985, a number of measurements have been made in deep water to determine the water-following characteristics of mixed layer drifters with both holey-sock and TRISTAR drogues at 15 m depth. The measurements were done by attaching two neutrally buoyant vector measuring current meters (VMCMs) to the top and the bottom of the drogues and deploying the drifters in different wind and upper ocean shear conditions for periods of 2–4 h. The average velocity of the VMCM records was taken to be a quantitative measure of the slip of the drogue through the water, observed to be 0.5-3.5 cm s⁻¹. The most important hydrodynamic design parameter which influenced the slip of the drogue was the ratio of the drag area of the drogue to the sum of the drag areas of the tether and surface floats: the drag area ratio R. The most important environmental parameters which affected the slip were the wind and the measured velocity difference across the vertical extent of the drogue. A model of the vector slip as a function of R, vector wind and velocity difference across the drogue was developed and a least squares fit accounts for 85% of the variance of the slip measurements. These measurements indicated that to reduce the wind produced slip below 1 cm s⁻¹ in 10 m s⁻¹ wind speed, R > 40. Conversely, if the daily average wind is known to 5 m s⁻¹ accuracy, the displacement of the R = 40 drifter can be corrected to an accuracy of 0.5 km day⁻¹.     

Annual variation of methane in seawater in Funka bay,Japan

The concentration of methane in seawater was determined approximately once a month for one year from August 1990 to July 1991 at a station close to the center of Funka bay (92 m depth) and some supplementary observations were also carried out. The concentration of methane was usually increased with increasing depth, suggesting that methane was emitted from the bottom of the bay. While highly variable both spatially and temporally, the emission was intense in March and April, a period immediately after the spring bloom of phytoplankton. The maximum of methane found in the intermediate water suggests its source from the slope of the bay. The concentration of methane in the surface water changed seasonally and also interannually. The annually averaged flux of methane transferred to the atmosphere in the bay was estimated to be 6×10^–3 gCH₄m²/day. The coastal zone in the world may be a significant source of the atmospheric methane, although its source strength has yet to be accurately estimated from more data in different coastal seas.     

Total particulate and organic fluxes in anoxic Framvaren waters

Cylindrical sediment traps were deployed at various depths in the anoxic water of Framvaren for two periods of one year (1981–1982 and 1983–1984). The traps were emptied three times during 1981–1982 and five times during 1983–1984. The vertical fluxes of total suspended material, organic carbon and nitrogen were calculated on a daily and annual basis. The average annual sediment flux 20 m above the bottom was approximately 60 g m⁻² y⁻¹ and the flux of organic carbon was 20 g m⁻² y⁻¹. On the basis of an average C/N ratio of 8 and a constant carbon flux below a depth of 20 m, it is concluded that little mineralization of the organic matter takes place in the anoxic water column. Assuming a primary production of the order to 50–100 g m⁻² y⁻¹, 22–24% of that reaches the anoxic water masses. Further breakdown of organic matter takes place in the surface sediments.     

228Ra in surface water of the Seto Inland Sea

The concentrations of²²⁸Ra in surface waters of the Seto Inland Sea were determined. Surface waters from the central region of the Seto Inland Sea, Hiuchi Nada and Bingo Nada, contained concentrations of²²⁸Ra of 655–811 dpm/1000 l which were 100 times higher than those obtained in the Pacific Ocean. These high concentrations of²²⁸Ra must be supported by a²²⁸Ra flux from the bottom sediment. The lower limit of this flux was estimated to be more than 0.16 dpm cm^–2 y^–1. The²²⁸Ra concentrations decreased markedly from central regions of the Seto Inland Sea to about 18 dpm/1000 l in the Kii and the Bungo Channels as salinity increased. Using a box model and the²²⁸Ra data, the mean residence time of sea water in the Seto Inland Sea with respect to the exchange with the open ocean water was estimated to be less than 10 y, and the most probable value is the order of several years.     

Convergence,divergence and vertical velocity at a tidal front in Hiuchi-Nada,Japan

The detailed flow structure around a tical front in Hiuchi-Nada, Japan was observed with the use of ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler). The surface convergence region is observed at the transition zone between vertically well mixed area and the stratified area. The surface divergence regions exist next to the surface convergence region. The strong downward current is estimated in the middle layer just below the surface convergence region. The maximum surface convergence and the maximum downward velocity in the middle layer are 1.0×10^–4 s^–1 and 0.12 cm s^–1, respectively.     

Distributions and upward fluxes of particulate matter near bottom in the southeastern Bering Sea Shelf

Time-series measurements of temperature, salinity, suspended matter and beam attenuation coefficient () were measured at four hour intervals for about two days in June/ July 1982 in the middle shelf region and the coastal region of the southeastern Bering Sea. Current meters were also moored at the same locations.Depth-time distributions of indicated that profiles of suspended matter resulted from a combined process of resuspension of underlying sediments and sinking of suspended particles. Average-values for all measurements for particles revealed that the upward transport of particles due to resuspension formed a boundary layer, with a thickness apparently related to scalar speed. The average-profiles of the particle volume concentration were assumed to result from a balance between the sinking and diffusive flux of particles under a steady state, and the upward fluxes were calculated. Within the boundary layer, values of the upward fluxes of particulate organic matter linearly decreased with the logarithm of distance from the bottom. Fluxes of organic carbon at the upper edge of the boundary layer were 0.375 gC·m^–2·day^–1 in the middle shelf region (18 m above the bottom, bottom depth=78m) and 0.484gC·m^–2·day^–1 in the coastal region (25 m above the bottom, bottom depth=33m), and fluxes of nitrogen in both regions were 0.067 gN·m^–2·day^–1. The flux of organic carbon obtained in the middle shelf region (18 m above the bottom) agreed approximately with the flux (0.416 gC·m^–2·day^–1) calculated by substituting primary production data into the empirical equation of Suess (1980).     

Short-lived thorium isotopes (Th, Th) as indicators of POC export and particle cycling in the Ross Sea, Southern Ocean

Repeated measurements of depth profiles of ²³⁴Th (dissolved, 1–70 and >70 μm particulate) at three stations (Orca, Minke, Sei) in the Ross Sea have been used to estimate the export of Th and particulate organic carbon (POC) from the euphotic zone. Sampling was carried out on three JGOFS cruises covering the period from October 1996 (austral early spring) to April 1997 (austral fall). Deficiencies of ²³⁴Th relative to its parent ²³⁸U in the upper 100 m are small during the early spring cruise, increase to maximum values during the summer, and decrease over the course of the fall. Application of a non-steady-state model to the ²³⁴Th data shows that the flux of Th from the euphotic zone occurs principally during the summer cruise and in the interval between summer and fall. Station Minke in the southwestern Ross Sea appears to sustain significant ²³⁴Th removal for a longer period than is evident at Orca or Sei. Particulate ²³⁴Th activities and POC are greater in the 1–70 μm size fraction, except late in the summer cruise, when the >70 μm POC fraction exceeds that of the 1–70 μm fraction. The POC/²³⁴Th ratio in the >70 μm fraction exceeds that in the 1–70 μm fraction, likely due in part to the greater availability of surface sites for Th adsorption in the latter. Particulate ²³⁴Th fluxes are converted to POC fluxes by multiplying by the POC/²³⁴Th ratio of the >70 μm fraction (assumed to be representative of sinking particles). POC fluxes calculated from a steady-state Th scavenging model range from 7 to 91 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ during late January–early February, with the greatest flux observed at station Minke late in the cruise. Fluxes estimated with a non-steady-state Th model are 85 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ at Minke (1/13–2/1/97) and 50 mmol C m⁻² d⁻¹ at Orca (1/19–2/1/97). The decline in POC inventories (0–100 m) is most rapid in the southern Ross Sea during the austral summer cruise (Smith et al., 2000. The seasonal cycle of phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research II 47, 3119–3140. Gardner et al., 2000. Seasonal patterns of water column particulate organic carbon and fluxes in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research II 47, 3423–3449), and the ²³⁴Th-derived POC fluxes indicate that the sinking flux of POC is 30–50% of the POC decrease, depending on whether steady-state or non-steady-state Th fluxes are used. Rate constants for particle POC aggregation and disaggregation rates are calculated at station Orca by coupling particulate ²³⁴Th data with ²²⁸Th data on the same samples. Late in the early spring cruise, as well as during the summer cruise, POC aggregation rates are highest in near-surface waters and decrease with depth. POC disaggregation rates during the same time generally increase to a maximum and are low at depth (>200 m). Subsurface aggregation rates increase to high values late in the summer, while disaggregation rates decrease. This trend helps explain higher values of POC in the >70 m fraction relative to the 1–70 m fraction late in the summer cruise. Increases in disaggregation rate below 100 m transfer POC from the large to small size fraction and may attenuate the flux of POC sinking out of the euphotic zone.     

Towed ADCP fish with Depth and Roll controllable wings and its application to the Kuroshio observation

An intelligent ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) fish, called DRAKE (Depth and Roll Adjustable Kite for Energy flux measurements) was developed with the controllable wings which can adjust the submerging depth of the fish and stabilize its roll motion. The Kuroshio west of Okinawa was measured in a roundtrip course on the same traverse line by the ADCP fish. The forward survey obtained the maximum submerging depth of 208 m at a fish operation speed of 2.9 ms^–1. The maximum fish speed of 5.4 ms^–1 was achieved at a submerging depth of 48 m in the return survey. The data in the overlapped area of data acquisition between depths 212 and 276 m were used to examine the accuracy of velocity measurement for the towed ADCP system. The summation of both survey data made it possible to estimate a sectional velocity structure and transport of the upper 600 m corresponding roughly to the whole section of the Kuroshio in this region.     

Resuspension of benthic fluff by tidal currents in deep stratified waters, northern North Sea

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration and properties (particle size and settling velocity), water column and boundary layer dynamics were measured during a 60-d period at a site in 110 m water depth in the northern North Sea. The site was in stratified waters and measurements were made during September–November as the seasonal thermocline was progressively weakening. SPM concentration was low, c. 1 mg dm⁻³ in the surface mixed layer and maximum values of 2 mg dm⁻³ in the bottom mixed layer. The bottom layer was characterised by larger mean particle size. SPM signals in the two layers were decoupled at the start of the period, when the thermocline was strong, but were increasingly coupled as the thermocline progressively weakened. A spring-neap cycle of resuspension and deposition of SPM was observed in the bottom mixed layer. Bed shear stresses were too small to entrain the bottom sediment (a fine sand) but were competent to resuspend benthic fluff: threshold bed shear stress and threshold current velocity at 10 mab were 0.02–0.03 Pa. and 0.18 m s⁻¹, respectively. Maximum SPM concentration in the bottom layer preceded peak spring tide currents by 3 d. Simulation of fluff resupension by the PROWQM model confirms that this was due to a finite supply of benthic fluff: the fluff layer was stripped from the seabed so that fluff supply was zero by the time of peak spring flow. SPM was redeposited over neap tides. Fluff resuspension must have been enhanced by intermittent inertial currents in the bottom layer but unequivocal evidence for this was not seen. There was some resuspension due to wave activity. Settling velocity spectra were unimodal or bimodal with modal values of 2×10⁻⁴–2×10⁻³ mm s⁻¹ (long-term suspension component) and 0.2–5.7 mm s⁻¹ (resuspension component). The slowest settling particles remained in suspension at peak spring tides after the fluff layer had been exhausted. There was evidence of particle disaggregation during springs and aggregation during neaps.     

Spatial and temporal variability of particulate matter in the benthic boundary layer at the N.W. European Continental Margin (Goban Spur)

Near bottom water samples and sediments were taken during five cruises to 6 stations forming a transect across the N.W. European Continental Margin at Goban Spur. Flow velocity spot measurements in the benthic boundary layer (BBL) always increased from the shelf to the upper slope (1470 m) from 5 to 9 cm s⁻¹ in spring/summer and from 15 to 37 cm s⁻¹ in autumn/winter. Decreasing values were detected at the lower slope (2000 m) and the lowest values of ca. 2 cm s⁻¹ at the continental rise at 4500 m water depth. Long term measurements with a benthic lander at 1470 m show that currents have a tidal component and reach maximum velocities up to 20 cm s⁻¹, sufficiently high periodically to resuspend and transport phytodetritus. During these long-term observations, currents were always weaker in spring/summer than in autumn/winter. Critical shear velocities of shelf/slope sediments increased with depth from 0.5 to 1.7 cm s⁻¹ and major resuspension events and Intermediate Nepheloid Layers (INLs) should occur around 1000 m. Chloroplastic Pigment Equivalents (CPE) ranged from 0.0 to 0.21 μg dm⁻³, Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) from 12 to 141 μg dm⁻³ and Total Particulate Matter (TPM) from 0.2 to 10.0 mg dm⁻³. Aggregates in the BBL occurred with a median diameter of 152 to 468 μm. Data on suspended particulate matter in the near-bottom waters showed that hydrodynamic sorting within the particulate organic fraction occurred. Phytodetritus was packaged in relatively large aggregates and contributed little to the total organic carbon pool in nearbottom waters (CPE/POC ca.0.2%). The main organic fraction has low settling velocities and high residence times within the benthic boundary layer. As POC was not concentrated in the near bed region the degree to which carbon is accessible to the benthic community depends on aggregate formation, subsequent settling and/or biodeposition of the POC. Close to the sea bed downslope transport may dominate. Under flow conditions high enough to resuspend fresh phythodetritus from sediments at the productive shelf edge, this could be transported to 1500 m (Goban Spur) or abyssal depth (Canyon site between Meriadzek and Goban Spur) within 21 days.     

Structure of the strong tidal jet in the naruto strait

In order to clarify the structure of the strong tidal current at the Naruto Strait in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan, the sea-level values were observed in the strait and the current measurements were made with an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).The tidal volume transports for M₂ and S₂ tides were about 74×10³ and 26×10³ m³ sec^–1, respectively. The horizontal profile of the velocity at the phase of the strong tidal current compares favorably with a theoretical profile of the two-dimensional steady turbulent jet except for the side parts of the profile. Moreover, the entrainment rate of the surrounding water into the strong tidal jet was estimated from the difference of mass flux between two cross-sections at the strait, the entrainment rate and entrainment constant for both the northward and southward flows being about 1.3–2.5×10^–4m^–1 and about 0.03–0.05, respectively.     

Thorium isotopes as tracers of particles dynamics and deep water circulation in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean (ANTARES IV)

Dissolved and particulate samples were collected to study the distribution of thorium isotopes (²³⁴Th, ²³²Th and ²³⁰Th) in the water column of the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean (from 42°S to 47°S and from 60°E to 66°E, north of the Polar Front) during Austral summer 1999. Vertical profiles of excess ²³⁰Th (²³⁰Th_xs) increases linearly with depth in surface water (0–100 m) and a model was applied to estimate a residence time relative to the thorium scavenging (τ_scav). Low τ_scav in the Polar Front Zone (PFZ) are found, compared to those estimated in the Subtropical Front Zone (STZ). Changes in particle composition between the PFZ and STZ could influence the ²³⁰Th_xs scavenging efficiency and explain this difference. An innovative coupling between ²³⁴Th and ²³⁰Th_xs was then used to simultaneously constrain the settling velocities of small (0.6–60 μm) and large (above 60 μm) particles. Although the different hydrological and biogeochemical regimes visited during the ANTARES IV cruise did not explain the spatial variation of sinking velocity estimates, our results indicate that less particles may reach the seafloor north (60 ± 2 m d^− 1, station 8) than south of the Agulhas Return Current (119 ± 23 and 130 ± 5 m d^− 1 at stations 3 and 7, respectively). This information is essential for understanding particle transport and by extension, carbon export. In the deep water column, the ²³⁰Th_xs concentrations did not increase linearly with depth, probably due to lateral transport of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) from the Atlantic to the Indian sector, which renews the deep waters and decreases the ²³⁰Th_xs concentrations. A specific ²³⁰Th_xs transport model is applied in the deep water column and allows us to assess a “travel time” of NADW ranging from 2 to 15 years.     

Seasonal variations in faunal distribution and activity across the continental slope of the goban spur area (NE Atlantic)

Density, biomass and community structure of macrofauna were estimated together with several sediment characteristics at seven stations ranging from 208 m to 4460 m water depth along the OMEX transect in the Goban Spur area (NE Atlantic) during three seasons (October 1993, May 1994, and August 1995). Median grain size decreased with increasing water depth and showed no differences between the seasons. The percentages of organic carbon and total nitrogen were highest at mid-slope depths (1000 to 1500 m), and were significantly higher in August at the upper part of the slope to a depth of 1500 m. The C:N ratio in the surface layer amounted to 7 to 8 in May, 10 to 12 in August and 14 to 17 in October at all stations (except the deepest at 4460 m, where it was 11 in May and August), indicating arrival of fresh phytodetritus in May, and therefore seasonality in food input to the benthos. Densities of macrofauna decreased exponentially with increasing water depth. Significantly higher densities of macrofauna were found in May at the upper part of the slope to a depth of 1500 m. These differences were mainly due to high numbers of postlarvae of echinoids at the shallowest station and ophiuroids at the deeper stations. Biomass values also decreased with increasing water depth, but biomass was relatively high at the 1000 m station and low at 1500 m, due to relatively high and low mean weights of the individual macrofaunal specimens. No significant differences in biomass were found between the seasons. Respiration was high (15 to 20 mgC·m⁻²·d⁻¹) in May at the upper part of the slope to a depth of 1000 m and low (1–3 mg C·m⁻²·d⁻¹) at the deeper part. At the shallowest stations to a depth of 1000 m respiration was highest in May, at the mid-slope stations (1400–2200 m) it was highest in August, whereas the deepest stations (3600 to 4500 m) did not show any differences in respiration rates. In conclusion; seasonal variation in organic input is reflected in denstiy, community structure and activity of the macrofauna along the continental slope in the NE Atlantic.