Neon distribution in South Atlantic and South Pacific waters

We present and assess the distribution of neon in South Atlantic and South Pacific waters, on the basis of more than 3000 mostly new neon data which were obtained primarily under the hydrographic program of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (predominantly southern summer to fall cruises). Data precision is better than±0.5%, and the set is internally consistent within±0.3% and partly better, and compatible with reported high-quality neon values. Using suitably averaged data (precision 0.1–0.3%), we find that the total range of neon anomalies relative to a solubility equilibrium with atmospheric neon at the observed potential temperature and salinity (using the solubilities of Weiss, J. Chem. Eng. Data 16 (1971) 235) is approximately 0–4%, and below 2000 m depth, 3–4% only. We consistently observe two types of neon depth profiles, one for the temperate-latitudes ocean, which is characterized by a near-surface maximum and a minimum in Antarctic Intermediate Water, and one for the Southern Ocean that essentially displays a steady increase with depth. The neon distribution reflects the influence of air injected by submerged air bubbles, the areal distribution of atmospheric pressure, seasonal temperature changes in the mixed layer and solar heating below it, and interaction with sea ice and glacial ice, largely in keeping with previous work. However, it appears that interaction with sea ice reduces neon anomalies distinctly less than the literature suggests. The temperate-ocean shallow maxima point to widespread subsurface heating in the course of the summer season by roughly 1 K. Among the major source water masses of the deep waters, the neon anomalies are lowest in Antarctic Intermediate Water (∼1.5%), intermediate in North Atlantic Deep Water (∼3%, confirming previous work) and similarly in Circumpolar Deep Water, and highest in Antarctic Bottom Water (∼3.8%). The anomalies in Southeast Pacific deep waters (>2500 m) are comparatively less (only∼3.3%), as a result of the contribution of Antarctic Intermediate Water. The present study is the first attempt to deal with the oceanic distribution of neon in a systematic fashion. The results can serve to assist assessments of the oceanic distributions of other dissolved gases.     

The chemical speciation of iron in the north-east Atlantic Ocean

The distribution of dissolved iron and its chemical speciation (organic complexation and redox speciation) were studied in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean along 23°W between 37 and 42°N at depths between 0 and 2000 m, and in the upper-water column (upper 200 m) at two stations further east at 45°N10°W and 40°N17°W in the early spring of 1998. The iron speciation data are here combined with phytoplankton data to suggest cyanobacteria as a possible source for the iron binding ligands. The organic Fe-binding ligand concentrations were greater than that of dissolved iron by a factor of 1.5–5, thus maintaining iron in solution at levels well above it solubility. The water column distribution of the organic ligand indicates in-situ production of organic ligands by the plankton (consisting mainly of the cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp.) in the euphotic layer and a remineralisation from sinking biogenic particles in deeper waters. Fe(II) concentrations varied from below the detection limit (<0.1 nM) up to 0.55 nM but represented only a minor fraction of 0% to occasionally 35% of the dissolved iron throughout the water column. The water column distribution of the Fe(II) suggests biologically mediated production in the deep waters and photochemical production in the euphotic layer. Although there was no evidence of iron limitation in these waters, the aeolian iron input probably contributed to a shift in the phytoplankton assemblage towards increased Synechococcus growth.     

Mass balance and heat transport in the equatorial Atlantic

The annual average mass and heat balances in the equatorial Atlantic as well as their seasonal variability are analysed using adaptation (initialization procedure) data. It is shown that correlations of temperature and the seasonal fluctuations of the meridional velocity component do not significantly affect the annual average meridional heat transport.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Reactive mercury in the eastern North Atlantic and southeast Atlantic

The vertical distribution of reactive mercury has been measured at two stations in the eastern North Atlantic and one station in the southeast Atlantic in conjunction with the IOC Open Ocean Baseline Survey. The average concentrations of reactive Hg in vertical profiles ranged from 0.70 to 1.07 pM with the highest values found at the northeast Atlantic stations and the lowest at the southeast station. No significant concentration gradients were found below the surface mixed layer at the two stations in the eastern North Atlantic. At station 7, in the southeast Atlantic, an increase in reactive Hg was noted in the water adjacent to the mixed layer (35–200 m) which was coincident with an oxygen depletion, down to 20% saturation at 200 m. The concentration of reactive Hg in the North Atlantic Deep Water (0.48–1.34 pM), the Antarctic Intermediate Water (0.47 pM), the Antarctic Bottom Water (0.67–1.25 pM), and the Mediterranean Outflow Water (0.83–1.06 pM) were noted. The trends in Hg concentration in the water masses between stations showed the concentration decreasing with distance from the water mass source except for Hg in the Antarctic Bottom Water. The increase noted in this water mass was attributed to mixing with North Atlantic Deep Water and or release from bottom sediments.     

The distribution and abundance of cephalopods on the continental slope of the eastern South Atlantic

During a cruise in March 1988 dedicated to investigation of the marine resources of South Africa's continental slope, 62 species in 22 families of Cephalopoda were collected from the Cape Canyon and Cape Point Valley. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear distinction between cephalopods of the upper and lower continental slope in both benthic and epibenthic habitats. Todaropsis eblanae and Todarodes angolensis were indicator species for the upper slope benthic, from 300 to 500 m, but on the lower slope, in 700–900 m of water, they were replaced by Histioteuthis miranda and Opisthoteuthis agassizii. In the epibenthic, both upper and lower slopes were dominated by Abraliopsis gilchristi and Lycoteuthis ?diadema, but other species characteristic of the lower slope were the oceanic species Mastigoteuthis hjorti, Ctenopteryx sicula and Taonius sp. A. Cranchia scabra indicated the presence of oceanic water at stations 700–900 m deep. Other species of significance in the catches were Todarodes filippovae, Histioteuthis macrohista, Rossia enigmatica and Bathypolypus valdiviae. Species affinities indicate that the cephalopod fauna of the southern African continental slope includes the following zoogeographic components: southern African endemic, circum-Subantarctic species associated with Antarctic Intermediate Water, circum-global southern tropical/subtropical, tropical Indo-Pacific and cosmopolitan tropical/subtropical.     

The dissolved iodate and iodide distribution in the South Atlantic from the Weddell Sea to Brazil

Iodide and iodate concentrations are reported and discussed for the WOCE A23 transect from the Weddell Sea north to about 25°S. Iodide concentrations are very low in the surface waters of the Weddell Sea (20 nM) and increase steadily northwards to about 100 nM in the surface waters of the south Atlantic gyre. In deep waters iodide concentrations are low but detectable at 0.5–2 nM. There is no detectable total iodine depletion in the surface waters south of the polar front although there is a small depletion evident north of the front. The results are discussed in terms of the hydrography, nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton activity along the transect. In particular, a systematic change in the relationship between iodide and nitrate along the transect is discussed.     

Zinc speciation in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean

Measurements of zinc and zinc complexation by natural organic ligands in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean were made using cathodic stripping voltammetry with ligand competition. Total zinc concentrations ranged from 0.3 nM in surface waters to 2 nM at 2000 m for open-ocean waters, whilst nearer the English coast, zinc concentrations reached 1.5 nM in the upper water column. In open-ocean waters zinc speciation was dominated by complexation to a natural organic ligand with conditional stability constant (log K_ZnL′) ranging between 10.0 and 10.5 and with ligand concentrations ranging between 0.4 and 2.5 nM. The ligand was found to be uniformly distributed throughout the water column even though zinc concentrations increased with depth. Organic ligand concentrations measured in this study are similar to those published for the North Pacific. However the log K_ZnL′ values for the North Atlantic are almost and order of magnitude lower than those reported by Bruland [Bruland, K.W., 1989. Complexation of zinc by natural organic-ligands in the central North Pacific. Limnol. Oceanogr., 34, 269–285.] using anodic stripping voltammetry for the North Pacific. Free zinc ion concentrations were low in open-ocean waters (6–20 pM) but are not low enough to limit growth of a typical oceanic species of phytoplankton.     

The north equatorial countercurrent in the Atlantic Ocean derived from drifter observations

The characteristics of the spatial structure of the Atlantic north equatorial countercurrent (NECC) have been determined from the analysis of observations of the subsatellite buoy tracers (surface drifters LOBAN-TM) launched during cruises of the research vessels operated by the Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. A comparison with the data obtained by other methods of current measurement has been carried out. The region of and the time of discontinuity of the NECC and of the reconstruction of its continuous zonal structure have also been determined.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

The north equatorial countercurrent in the West Atlantic during the summer of 1988

Experimental data provided by a hydrophysical profiling probe are invoked to examine the vertical and horizontal structures of the north equatorial countercurrent in the Atlantic Ocean. The kinematics of waters and the hydrological element distribution are compared. The countercurrent's major parameters have been identified and volume transport has been calculated.Translated by V.Puchkin.     

Echo character of the western equatorial Atlantic floor and its relationship to the dispersal and distribution of terrigenous sediments

The floor of the western equatorial Atlantic Ocean can be divided into several distinct provinces based on detailed characteristics of the bottom echos recorded with short-ping (< msec.) 3.5 and 12 kHz sound sources. Two major types of echos are recorded: (I) distinct echos; and (II) indistinct echos.Indistinct echos can be further sub-divided into (A) continuous prolonged echos; and (B) hyperbolic echos. Each class of echos contains two or more unique echo types. The regional distributions of the various echo types recorded from the continental rise, Amazon Cone, and abyssal plains reveal much information about sedimentary processes.In the western equatorial Atlantic, hyperbolic echos are recorded only from small, isolated portions of the continental rise. This contrasts with the continental rise of the western North Atlantic where previous investigators have shown that hyperbolic echos parallel bathymetric contours along the entire rise and thus reflect shaping of the rise by geostrophic contour currents (Heezen et al., 1966; Hollister, 1967). The fact that regions of hyperbolic echos show little or no relationship to bathymetric contours of the continental rise of the western equatorial Atlantic suggests that contour currents have been unimportant in shaping the rise in this region.The three most widespread echo types recorded from the continental rise, Amazon Cone, and abyssal plains reveal much information about terrigenous sediment dispersal and deposition in the western equatorial Atlantic. Comparison of the thicknesses and frequencies of coarse (silt- to gravel-size), bedded, terrigenous sediment in piston cores with the echo type recorded at each coring site shows a correlation between echo type and the relative amount of coarse, bedded sediment within the upper few meters of the sea floor. The regional distributions of these three echo types indicate that dispersal of coarse terrigenous sediment has been downslope across the continental rise and Amazon Cone to the abyssal plains via gravity-controlled sediment flows. The Amazon River is the major sediment source and most coarse sediment is deposited on the lower Amazon Cone and proximal portions of the Demerara abyssal plain.     

珠江口硒的形态分布特征

硒属于硫族元素,在化学和生物化学性质上,硒与硫、碲相似.它和砷一样也是一种类金属物质.硒广泛存在于自然界中,岩石、土壤、沉积物、水体、生物体以及大气环境都含有不同程度的硒.硒是生物必需的一种微量元素,一方面表现出重要的生物功能,另一方面在较高浓度下也表现出毒性,摄入过多可导致动物和人硒中毒[1].在陆源硒向海洋的输送中河流占重要贡献,河流可能是溶解硒输入海洋的主要来源[2,3].河口区是陆地径流与海水相互混合的地带,其中发生的反应直接影响元素的入海通量,因此研究河口化学元素的行为对估计河流向海洋的输入及建立全球生物地球化学循环模型有十分重要的意义.     

Ultramafic-carbonate breccias from the equatorial Mid Atlantic Ridge

Breccias consisting of fragments of serpentinized peridotite in a carbonate cement were dredged abundantly from the slopes of transverse ridges existing at the offsets of the Mid Atlantic Ridge in the Romanche and Vema fracture zones. The carbonate cement consists of microcrystalline, low-magnesium calcite and occasionally also of aragonite. The results of chemical and of ¹⁸O/¹⁶O, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, and ²³⁴U/²³⁸U isotopic analyses of these carbonates suggest that in part they were deposited at high pH from interstitial sea water circulating in the spaces between the serpentinized peridotite fragments. Several possibilities are discussed as to the mechanisms which caused the ultramafic rocks to become brecciated. It is concluded that the breccias are probably tectonic in origin, and were formed in shear zones resulting from one of several possible types of differential motions between crustal blocks in the tectonically active offset zones. The breccias from the Mid Atlantic Ridge are similar to serpentinite-carbonate breccias associated with serpentinite bodies in the Apennine (Italy) ophiolite complex, which represents uplifted fragments of Mesozoic oceanic crust. The origin of these ophiolitic breccias may be similar to that of the Mid Atlantic Ridge breccias.     

The distribution of iron in the Northwest Atlantic

Samples from eleven stations in the Sargasso Sea, Slope Water, and continental shelf water of the Northwest Atlantic have been analyzed for total iron by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Vertical profiles for iron and associated temperature and nutrient data were obtained at the five open-ocean stations. Data from six stations provided a transect across the continental shelf into the apex of the New York Bight.At open-ocean stations, iron was depleted near the surface to levels of about 1–2 nmol kg^?1 and increased to levels of about 4–7 nmol kg^?1 in the vicinity of the oxygen minimum. A characteristic bottom-water maximum was observed at stations where closely spaced, near-bottom sampling was conducted. This feature was due at least partially to resuspension of particulate iron associated with the nepheloid layer.Comparison of total iron concentrations (available upon digestion in concentrated nitric acid) to those of filtered samples (0.4 μm) at one Slope Water station indicated that about 40% of the available iron in the water column was associated with the particulate phase. Near the surface, in the vicinity of the chlorophyll maximum, iron was present almost totally in particulate form. The dissolved fraction increased to approximately 50% at the nutrient maximum and approached 100% in the mid-portion of the water column. In deeper waters, the particulate fraction again became important, increasing to approximately 80% of the total iron in the near-bottom maximum.In the apex of the New York Bight, iron levels in excess of 200 and 500 nmol kg^?1 were observed in surface and bottom waters, respectively. In the mid-continental shelf region, the iron distribution does not appear to be greatly influenced by coastal sources; within 65 km of the coastline, iron levels approached open-ocean values.     

Reactive mercury in the central North Atlantic Ocean

The level of reactive mercury in pelagic waters near the Mid Atlantic Ridge, south of the Azores, and in the Sargasso Sea, north of Bermuda, was studied. The reactive Hg concentration in both locations was shown to be fairly uniform with depth at a level of 2.5 ± 0.5 pmol l⁻¹. The profiles show no indication of a simple Hg-nutrient relationship. The deep water from the Famous area was also sampled and showed no elevated Hg levels.     

南大西洋副热带偶极子的年际变化

南大西洋副热带偶极子(South Atlantic Subtropical Dipole;SASD)为南大西洋海洋与大气相互作用的主要模态。它的空间型为海表面温度异常呈现东北-西南偶极子分布。当SASD指数大于1,为SASD正事件,小于-1,为负事件。根据1960-2016年HadISST(Hadley Center Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature)数据,本文鉴别出57年中共发生6次正事件和9次负事件。SASD存在显著的5~8年周期的年际变化特征。本文进一步利用1992-2016年ECCO2(Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean,PhaseⅡ)模式数据,根据温度倾向方程分别诊断了SASD西南极和东北极的混合层温度变化。诊断结果表明,SASD的年际变化主要来自于表面热力强迫项的年际变化。考虑到表面热力强迫项主要由短波辐射项控制,SASD的年际变化最终来源于短波辐射项的年际变化。     

厦门港湾潮间带沉积物中汞的赋存形态及其释放动力学

所研究的沉积物样品采自福建省厦门市的港湾潮问带地区,选择了10μg／dm’的汞标准使用液对采集回来的沉积物样品进行了预污染处理,利用预污染后的沉积物样品,在实验室中进行了一系列的汞释放动力学实验．实验结果表明,汞的释放量较低,达到释放平衡时的释放量小于5μg／kg,释放过程可分为2个阶段：前8h为快速释放阶段,之后为慢速释放阶段,大约在24h达释放平衡．采用了Tessier五步提取法对未污染过的沉积物原样及进行过预污染处理的沉积物样品进行了汞的形态分析,结果表明通过污染实验吸附到沉积物上的汞的各形态含量大小顺序为：HgS为主的惰性汞〉单质汞〉盐酸溶无机汞及甲基汞〉有机结合、螯合态汞〉水溶态、交换态等活性汞．     

Inferring upwelling rates in the equatorial Atlantic using Be measurements in the upper ocean

Ocean upwelling rates are difficult to measure because of the relatively small velocities involved, and therefore are typically inferred from indirect methods such as heat budget estimates or tracer observations. Here we present the first results using a novel technique, based on the isotope ⁷Be, to infer rates of upwelling along the equator. Beryllium-7 (half-life=53.3 d) is a cosmic-ray produced radioactive nuclide that is deposited by rainfall upon the ocean surface and subsequently enriched and homogenized within the mixed layer. Previous investigations have utilized the penetration of characteristically high mixed layer concentrations into the upper thermocline to trace ocean ventilation and subduction over seasonal timescales. Here, the tracer is used in a reverse sense; that is, the ⁷Be concentration in the usually ⁷Be-rich surface mixed layer will be diluted from penetration of ⁷Be “dead” water upwelled from below. This dilution provides a means to infer upwelling rates. Furthermore, with knowledge of upwelling rates, ⁷Be profiles can be used to constrain vertical diffusivity within the upper thermocline. These ideas were tested with samples collected during the Tropical Atlantic Climate Experiment (TACE) cruise (May 22-June 27, 2009). The observations indicated a nearly linear relationship between ⁷Be inventory and mixed layer temperature, as with increased upwelling, lower mixed layer temperatures correspond to greater ⁷Be dilution from depth. With this data, upwelling rates were estimated at a number of stations near the equator between 0°E and 30°W within and adjacent to the equatorial cold tongue. The derived upwelling rates ranged from 0 to 2.2 m/d, with maximum values found between the equator and 2°S. The corresponding K_z values derived for the upper thermocline were in the range 1-4×10⁻⁴ m²/s.     

Spatial distribution and behavior of dissolved selenium speciation in the South China Sea and Malacca Straits during spring inter-monsoon period

Selenium(Se) has been recognized as a key trace element that is associated with growth of primary producers in oceans. During March and May 2018, surface water(67 samples) was collected and measured by HG-ICP-MS to investigate the distribution and behavior of selenite [Se(IV)], selenate [Se(VI)] and dissolved organic selenides(DOSe) concentrations in the Zhujiang River Estuary(ZRE), South China Sea(SCS) and Malacca Straits(MS). It showed that Se(IV)(0.14–3.44 nmol/L) was the dominant chemical species in the ZRE, related to intensive manufacture in the watershed; while the major species shifted to DOSe(0.05–0.79 nmol/L) in the MS, associated with the wide coverage of peatland and intensive agriculture activities in the Malaysian Peninsula. The SCS was identified as the northern and southern sections(NSCS and SSCS) based on the variations of surface circulation.The insignificant variation of Se(IV) in the NSCS and SSCS was obtained in March, potentially resulting from the high chemical activity and related preferential assimilation by phytoplankton communities. Contrastively, the lower DOSe concentrations in the SSCS likely resulted from higher primary production and utilization during March. During May, the concentration of Se(IV) remained low in the NSCS and SSCS, while DOSe concentrations increased notably in the SSCS, likely due to the impact of terrestrial inputs from surface current reversal and subsequent accumulation. On a global scale, DOSe is the dominant Se species in tropical oceans, while Se(IV) and Se(VI) are major fractions in high-latitude oceans, resulting from changes in predominated phytoplankton and related biological assimilation.     

Float trajectories in the deep western boundary current and deep equatorial jets of the tropical Atlantic

Fourteen neutrally buoyant SOFAR floats at a nominal depth of 1800 m were tracked acoustically for 3.7 yr in the vicinity of the western boundary and the equator of the Atlantic Ocean. The trajectories revealed a swift, narrow, southward-flowing deep western boundary current (DWBC) extending from 7N across the equator. Two floats crossed the equator in the DWBC and went to 10S. Two other floats left the DWBC and drifted eastward in the equatorial band (3S–3N). Three floats entered the DWBC from the equatorial current system and drifted southward. These results suggest that at times the DWBC flows directly southward across the equator with a mean velocity of 8–9 cm/s averaged over long distances (∼2800 km). At other times DWBC water is diverted eastward near the equator for long periods (2–3 yr), which can reduce the mean along-boundary velocity to 1–2 cm/s. This is much less than the instantaneous along-boundary velocities in the DWBC, which are often above 25 cm/s and occasionally exceed 50 cm/s. Mean eastward-flowing jets were observed near 2N and 2S bounding a mean westward jet centered on the equator (1S–1N). The southern jet at 2S coincides with a CFC-rich plume centered south of the equator. The CFC plume is inferred to have been advected by the southern jet across the Atlantic and into the Gulf of Guinea.     

Coccolith distribution patterns in South Atlantic and Southern Ocean surface sediments in relation to environmental gradients

In this study, the coccolith compositions of 213 surface sediment samples from the South Atlantic and Southern Ocean were analysed with respect to the environmental parameters of the overlying surface waters. From this data set, the abundance patterns of the main species and their ecological affinities were ascertained. In general, Emiliania huxleyi is the most abundant species of the recent coccolith assemblages in the study region. However, the lower photic zone taxa, composed of Florisphaera profunda and Gladiolithus flabellatus often dominate the assemblages between 20°N and 30°S. If E. huxleyi is excluded, Calcidiscus leptoporus and F. profunda become the most abundant species, each dominating discrete oceanographic regimes. While F. profunda is very abundant in the sediments underneath warmer, stratified surface waters with a deep nutricline, Calcidiscus leptoporus is encountered in high-productivity environments. Furthermore, the results of a canonical correspondence analysis reveal affinities of Gephyrocapsa spp., Helicosphaera spp. and Coccolithus pelagicus for intermediate to higher nutrient conditions in a well-mixed upper water column. In contrast, Gladiolithus flabellatus seems to be associated with high temperatures and salinities under low-nutrient conditions. Based on the relative abundances of Calcidiscus leptoporus, F. profunda, Gladiolithus flabellatus, Helicosphaera spp., Umbilicosphaera foliosa, Umbilicosphaera sibogae and a group of subordinate subtropical species, six surface sediment assemblages have been identified, which reflect the distribution and characteristics of the overlying surface waters. Their distribution appears to be mainly a function of the relative position of the nutricline and thermocline in the overlying photic zone.