Anthropogenic CO2 distribution in the North Pacific Ocean

The depth of penetration of anthropogenic CO₂ in the North Pacific Ocean based on carbonate data in the literature is discussed. The results indicate that the deepest penetration (over 2000 m) is found in the northwest North Pacific. The shallowest penetration (to less than 400 m) is found in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Depth of penetration of anthropogenic CO₂ appears to have been controlled by such factors as deep water formation in the Northwest Pacific; upwelling in the equatorial Pacific and; vertical mixing in the western boundary areas. These results compare well with results implied from tritium, C-14, and freons distributions. The total inventory of excess carbon in the North Pacific was 14.7±4×10¹⁵ g around 1980.     

Light scattering and size distribution of particles in the surface waters of the North Pacific Ocean

The volume scattering function and size distribution of suspended particles in the surface water were determined in the North Pacific. The relationship between the scattering coefficient estimated from observed volume scattering function and cross-section concentration of the particles greater than 2.4m in diameter was found to be linear in both northern and southern regions of central North Pacific. Difference in the constant of proportionality between two regions, however, was very great. Moreover the constant in the southern region was too large compared with the values obtained by the Mie theory. This is considered to be due to the fact that particles smaller than 2.4m which were not measureable by the Coulter Counter, were neglected in the calculation of cross-section concentration. If small particles are taken into consideration, total cross-section concentration and scattering coefficient in the two regions tend to follow a linear relation. From the correlation between the scattering coefficient computed from size distribution and the volume scattering function, the refractive index of particles was estimated to be 1.03–1.05. By the same procedure, the refractive index of particles in Tateyama Harbour where the water was very turbid, was estimated to be also 1.03–1.05. This is in contrast to the result for the refractive index of particles originating from the river which flows into the harbour. This index was found to be 1.10–1.20.     

Silicon flux and distribution of biogenic silica in deep-sea sediments in the western North Pacific Ocean

We investigated biogenic silica, several biological components, and silicate in pore-water in the abyssal sediment to determine silicon flux of western North Pacific during several cruises. The surficial sediment biogenic silica content was high at high latitudes with the boundary running along the Kuroshio Extension, and maximum values (exceeding 20%) were found in the Oyashio region. In the subtropical region to the south, most stations showed less than 5% biogenic silica content. This distribution pattern reflected primary production and ocean currents in the surface layer very well. Pore-water samples were collected from 4 stations along the east coast of Japan. The highest asymptotic silicic acid concentration (670 μmol L^?1) in pore-water was observed at the junction of Kuroshio and Oyashio, followed by samples from the Oyashio region. It is at the southern station that the lowest value (450 μmol L^?1) was observed, and the primary production is low under the influence of Kuroshio there. The diffusive flux followed the same geographic trend as the asymptotic silicic acid concentrations did, ranging 77–389 mmol m^?2 yr ^?1. Multiple sampling of pore-water was conducted throughout the year at one station at high latitude. The average annual biogenic silica rain flux observed using sediment traps was 373 mmol m^?2 yr^?1; the diffusive flux and burial flux at the sediment–water interface were 305 and 9 mmol m^?2 yr^?1, respectively. We concluded that most of the settling silica particles dissolved and diffused at the sediment–water interface and approximately 3% only were preserved in this area. In addition, the obvious time lag observed between the peak rain flux and the maximum diffusive flux suggested that primary production in the surface layer has a great influence on the sedimentation environment of abyssal western North Pacific. These transitions of Si flux at the sediment–water interface were considerably greater in northwestern North Pacific than in southwestern North Pacific. In addition, a station in the Philippine Sea indicated high biogenic silica content because of Ethmodiscus ooze, which are scattered randomly on the sea floor in the subtropical region.     

Ferromanganese nodule fauna in the Tropical North Pacific Ocean: Species richness,faunal cover and spatial distribution

The poorly known ferromanganese nodule fauna is a widespread hard substratum community in the deep sea that will be considerably impacted by large-scale nodule mining operations. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of the fauna attached to nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone at two scales; a regional scale that includes the east (14°N, 130°W) and the west (9°N, 150°W) zones and a local scale in which different geological facies (A, B, C and west) are recognizable. The fauna associated with 235 nodules was quantitatively described: 104 nodules from the east zone (15 of facies A, 50 of facies B and 39 of facies C) and 131 nodules from the west zone. Percent cover was used to quantify the extent of colonization at the time of sampling, for 42 species out of the 62 live species observed. Fauna covered up to 18% of exposed nodule surface with an average of about 3%. While species richness increased with exposed nodule surface, both at the regional and at the facies scales (except for facies A), total species density decreased (again except for facies A). When all nodules were included in the statistical analysis, there was no relation between faunal cover and exposed nodule surface. Nevertheless, faunal cover did decrease with exposed nodule surface for the east zone in general and for both facies B and C in particular. Species distributions among facies were significantly different but explained only a very small portion of the variance (∼5%). We identified two groups of associated species: a first group of two species and a second group of six species. The other species (34) were independently distributed, suggesting that species interactions play only a minor role in the spatial distribution of nodule fauna. The flux of particulate organic carbon to the bottom is the only major environmental factor considered to vary between the two zones within this study. We conclude that the higher species richness and higher percent faunal cover of the east zone can be partially attributed to greater food availability derived from surface inputs. Moreover, the surfaces of facies B and C nodules had a complex, knobby micro-relief, creating microhabitat heterogeneity that may also have contributed to the greater species richness observed in the east zone.     

北太平洋西部和印度洋东部及其邻近海域表层水体中137Cs的分布

对北太平洋西部海域、苏禄海及印尼海、中国南海、印度洋东部海域、孟加拉湾及安达曼海等表层水体中放射性核素137Cs的活度进行了测定。结果表明,上述海域表层水体中137Cs活度显示了较大的变化范围,最低值出现在南极附近的南大洋(1.1Bqm-3),较高的活度值则出现在北太平洋西部海域及中国南海(3Bqm-3)。在所研究水域范围内,137Cs活度的纬度分布特征并没有完全有效地反映出137Cs的全球理论大气沉降趋势及其纬度效应。综合本研究及Miyake等人(1988)的测定结果,我们计算出137Cs自表层海水中的析出速率在苏禄海及印尼海约为0.016/a,在孟加拉湾及安达曼海约为0.033/a,在中国南海约为0.029/a,这一结果明显低于西北太平洋日本沿海表层水体中137Cs的析出速率。这可能是因为在这些海域,横向及纵向的水体混合过程相对都较慢,而且颗粒物对137Cs的吸附析出过程也比较弱所致。     

北太平洋鱿鱼渔场浮游植物种类组成和数量分布

分析了北太平洋鱿鱼渔场浮游植物种类组成、分布特点及其与环境、中心渔场的关系.初步鉴定出36属129种,种类组成以暖水性种类居多(占58.9%),虽然冷水性占种类比例较少(占10.9%),但在细胞数量上占明显优势(占总量的68.05%),出现热带、亚热带与亚寒带区系共存的局面;其平面分布不均,平均总量为54.60×103个/m3;冷暖水系对浮游植物种类组成及数量分布均有显著的影响;中心渔场的形成与浮游植物高值区有着密切的关系.     

Decadal-Scale Climate and Ecosystem Interactions in the North Pacific Ocean

Decadal-scale climate variations in the Pacific Ocean wield a strong influence on the oceanic ecosystem. Two dominant patterns of large-scale SST variability and one dominant pattern of large-scale thermocline variability can be explained as a forced oceanic response to large-scale changes in the Aleutian Low. The physical mechanisms that generate this decadal variability are still unclear, but stochastic atmospheric forcing of the ocean combined with atmospheric teleconnections from the tropics to the midlatitudes and some weak ocean-atmosphere feedbacks processes are the most plausible explanation. These observed physical variations organize the oceanic ecosystem response through large-scale basin-wide forcings that exert distinct local influences through many different processes. The regional ecosystem impacts of these local processes are discussed for the Tropical Pacific, the Central North Pacific, the Kuroshio-Oyashio Extension, the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska, and the California Current System regions in the context of the observed decadal climate variability. The physical ocean-atmosphere system and the oceanic ecosystem interact through many different processes. These include physical forcing of the ecosystem by changes in solar fluxes, ocean temperature, horizontal current advection, vertical mixing and upwelling, freshwater fluxes, and sea ice. These also include oceanic ecosystem forcing of the climate by attenuation of solar energy by phytoplankton absorption and atmospheric aerosol production by phytoplankton DMS fluxes. A more complete understanding of the complicated feedback processes controlling decadal variability, ocean ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycling requires a concerted and organized long-term observational and modeling effort. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Distribution of pelagic blue-green algae in the North Pacific Ocean

The distribution of pelagic blue-green algae, especially ofTrichodesmium thiebautii, was investigated on the basis of the collection of theHakuhō Maru Cruise KH-69-4 along 155°W (50°N-15°S) in the North Pacific Ocean from September to November 1969.

1. Five species were identified:Trichodesmium thiebautii (most predominant),T. erythraeum, Oscillatoria sp.,Katagnymene spiralis andRichelia intracellularis.
2. T. thiebautii was most abundant in the western North Pacific central water and abundant next to it in the equatorial water, but it did not occur in the subarctic water.
3. T. thiebautii was ubiquitously distributed in the lower layer of 100–200 m in the equatorial water, though not in a large quantity.
4. T. thiebautii inhabited only the water warmer than 20°C. In its main habitat, nitrate and nitrite were almost zero, but ammonia and phosphate were present. There was not found any correlation between its occurrence and the salinity.
5. Blue-green algae were generally thinly populated in the water rich in diatoms.

     

热带、亚热带太平洋和南印度洋束毛藻的大尺度分布研究

利用2008年大洋环球航次,研究了热带、亚热带太平洋和南印度洋中束毛藻丰度的大尺度分布特征,结果表明:在亚热带西北太平洋和热带东南亚海域束毛藻藻丝平均丰度较高,分别为25.2×103和33.3×103m-3,在热带中太平洋、热带东太平洋和南印度洋束毛藻平均丰度较低,分别为1.76×103,0.87×103和1.52×103m-3。各海区束毛藻丰度与水温无明显相关关系。总叶绿素a的分布特征与束毛藻不同,在太平洋呈西低、东高,在热带东南亚海域较高而在南印度洋较低,从总叶绿素a的粒级结构看,微微型浮游植物(0.2~2μm)所占比重最高,其次是微型浮游植物(2~20μm),小型浮游植物(20μm)所占比重最低。各海区束毛藻对总叶绿素a贡献的比例不同,在亚热带西北太平洋和热带东南亚海域较高,分别占总叶绿素a的7.79%和3.92%,在热带中太平洋、热带东太平洋和南印度洋占总叶绿素a的比例较低,均低于1%。在亚热带西北太平洋束毛藻固氮占真光层总新氮输入量的比例较高,这是该海域新氮的重要来源之一,而在热带中太平洋和热带东太平洋束毛藻固氮对真光层新氮的贡献比例则很低。     

Distribution of cyanobacteria and other picophytoplankton in the western North Pacific Ocean,Summer 1989

Cell densities of phycoerythrin-fluorescing cyanobacteria and other chlorophyll-fluorescing picophytoplankton in the 0.2–2.0 µm size fraction were investigated, using an epifluorescence microscope, in the western North Pacific Ocean (36.5–44.0 °N, 155.0°E) in the summer of 1989. Cyanobacteria were most abundant in the surface of the subtropical water (36.5–38.0°N) and less in the northern sea area (39.5–44.0°N). The cell density of other picophytoplankton was, however, high in the northern part and low in the subtropical water. Results showed that algae other than cyanobacteria may significantly contribute to the picophytoplankton community under the low water temperature conditions of open waters. Chlorophylla concentration represented well the abundance of picophytoplankton other than cyanobacteria, but had no significant correlation with the cyanobacteria cell density. Chlorophylla-based data must be interpreted with caution, since the abundances of cyanobacteria were often considerably different even though the chlorophylla concentrations were the same level.     

Meridional distribution and carbon biomass of autotrophic picoplankton in the Central North Pacific Ocean during late northern summer 1990

The meridional distribution of autotrophic picoplankton groups in the central north Pacific was studied during the late northern summer of 1990. Sampling was along a section at 175°N which extended from 45°N to 8°S. The section is far from coastal regions and included subarctic, central gyre, and equatorial areas. Five autotrophic picoplankton groups, autotrophic microflagellate, red-fluorescing picoplankton,Synechococcus, prochlorophyte, and orange-fluorescing picoplankton, were identified from samples taken at stations distributed along this section. These five groups showed distinctive differences in their meridional and vertical distributions. The autotrophic microflagellates and red-fluorescing picoplankton showed distributions that were similar to that of chlorophyll a, which was dominated by the <3 μm size fraction. However, the vertical distribution of these groups was different.Synechococcus was found mostly in surface waters (PAR<10%) and was particularly abundant in the Kuroshio Extension and south of the equatorial region where the nitracline was shallow (50–75 m). Prochlorophytes were abundant in the deep euphotic layer (PAR 1-0.1%) from the south of the Kuroshio Extension to the south of the equatorial area. Orange-fluorescing picoplankton, which may be one kind of cyanobacteria but is larger than typical Synechococcus, were mostly distributed in the oligotrophic surface waters of the central gyre. The carbon biomass estimates for these organisms showed that these five groups dominated in different areas. The vertical distribution of carbon biomass did not correspond to that of chlorophyll a in the central gyre and south of the equator because of the larger carbon/ chlorophyll a ratio of Synechococcus and orange-fluorescing picoplankton relative to that of the other picoplankton.     

New computation of the wind stress over the North Pacific Ocean

The wind-stress field in the North Pacific Ocean during 1961–75 is computed from nearly five million ship reports. With a drag coefficient having a linear relation to wind speed, annual mean and monthly mean wind-stress fields are obtained, and their features are described.Compared with the stress fields obtained byHellerman (1967) andWyrtki andMeyers (1976), the eastward component of the stress in the present study is larger in magnitude and the northward one smaller in magnitude, especially in the trade wind region. Differences in the drag coefficient do not have a pronounced effect on the estimated stress field. Long-period inter-annual variations in the wind field are the most likely cause of the discrepancies between the present study and those of the above authors.The maximum of the wind-stress curl, estimated from the annual mean wind-stress fields, is as large as 1.0×10^–8dyn cm^–3 around 30°N, and is larger than that estimated byEvenson andVeronis (1975). The discrepancy is considered to be mainly due to differences in the computed stress field itself rather than due to differences in the grid size used in the stress computations.The Sverdrup transports integrated from the eastern boundary on the basis of the present stress field have a maximum greater than 40×10^–12cm³ s^–1 (Sv.) near the western boundary around 30°N. This value is closer to the observed transport of the Kuroshio than that based on Hellerman's stress field.     

太平洋潮波特征比较

本文对TOPEX/Poseidon高度计资料直接分析得到4个主要分潮(M2、K1、S2和O1)的调和常数,将其与全球大洋潮波模式TPXO6.2的模拟结果以及太平洋中48个验潮站观测资料的分析结果进行了系统比较,得出高度计资料直接分析结果与潮波模式模拟结果总体比较一致.模拟出的无潮点的位置和高度计资料直接分析结果有差异,且K1和O1分潮差异较大.与站点结果比较表明TPXO6.2模式模拟结果与验潮站观测结果的振幅绝对偏差小于2cm的站点的百分比达到85%,迟角绝对偏差小于40°的站点的百分比达到70%以上,比高度计资料直接分析结果精确;矢量均方根误差比较表明,太平洋中部结果比整个太平洋结果准确,太平洋矢量均方根误差的值和其他研究者、其他模式的结果近似.     

Mesopelagic fishes of the Bering Sea and adjacent northern North Pacific Ocean

Fourteen midwater trawl collections to depths of 450 m to 1,400 m were taken at eleven stations in the Bering Sea and adjoining regions of the northern North Pacific by the R/V Hakuho Maru during the summer of 1975. A total of 29 kinds of fishes were identified. Mesopelagic fishes of the families Myctophidae, Gonostomatidae and Bathylagidae predominated in the catches, contributing 14 species (94%) of the fishes caught.Seventeen species of fishes were caught in the Bering Sea, and all of these are known from nearby areas. The mesopelagic fish fauna of the Bering Sea is similar to that in adjoining regions of the northern North Pacific Ocean: endemic species are rare or absent. Stenobrachius nannochir was usually the most common mesopelagic fish in our catches.Stenobrachius leucopsarus is a diel vertical migrant that is usually the dominant mesopelagic fish in modified Subarctic waters of the northeastern Pacific. The change in dominance fromS. nannochir in the western Bering Sea toS. leucopsarus in the eastern Bering Sea is related to differences in oceanographic conditions.     

Interdecadal climate regime dynamics in the North Pacific Ocean: theories, observations and ecosystem impacts

Basin-scale variations in oceanic physical variables are thought to organize patterns of biological response across the Pacific Ocean over decadal time scales. Different physical mechanisms can be responsible for the diverse basin-scale patterns of sea-surface temperature (SST), mixed-layer depth, thermocline depth, and horizontal currents, although they are linked in various ways. In light of various theories and observations, we interpret observed basinwide patterns of decadal-scale variations in upper-ocean temperatures. Evidence so far indicates that large-scale perturbations of the Aleutian Low generate temperature anomalies in the central and eastern North Pacific through the combined action of net surface heat flux, turbulent mixing and Ekman advection. The surface-forced temperature anomalies in the central North Pacific subduct and propagate southwestwards in the ocean thermocline to the subtropics but apparently do not reach the equator. The large-scale Ekman pumping resulting from changes of the Aleutian Low forces western-intensified thermocline depth anomalies that are approximately consistent with Sverdrup theory. These thermocline changes are associated with SST anomalies in the Kuroshio/Oyashio Extension that are of the same sign as those in the central North Pacific, but lagged by several years. The physics of the possible feedback from the SST anomalies to the Aleutian Low, which might close a coupled ocean–atmosphere mode of decadal variability, is poorly understood and is an area of active research. The possible responses of North Pacific Ocean ecosystems to these complicated physical patterns is summarized.     

太平洋北赤道流表层流速及分叉点位置

确定太平洋北赤道流表层流速及分叉点位置的变化是海洋环境研究中的1个重要问题。使用1987～1998年的WOCE浮标资料,通过估算得到了季节平均和年平均意义下北赤道流表层流速(1989～1998)。计算结果显示:北赤道流表层流的流速冬季最大,夏季最小,春秋两季相仿。在厄尔尼诺发生年的第2年,夏季平均流速往往较大。对浮标轨迹的逐年分析表明表层北赤道流分叉点的位置在11°N～14 .7°N之间,从轨迹较为密集的4年的分析可以看出,表层流分叉点的位置具有年际变化,其中,2个ElNino年分叉点偏北。     

Organochlorine contamination in some odontoceti species from the North Pacific and Indian Ocean

Concentrations of persistent organochlorines were determined in the blubber and melon of 11 species of adult male odontocetis collected from the North Pacific, Indian Ocean and nearby seas. Mean concentrations of DDs (33 μg/g wet wt) were the highest followed by PCBs (32 μg/g wet wt), chlordane compounds (CHLs: 3.7 μg/g wet wt), HCHs (1.1 μg/g wet wt), and HCB (0.32 μg/g wet wt). Odontoceti species inhabiting temperate waters revealed maximum residual concentrations of these contaminants, and the elevated DDT and PCB residues detected seem to suggest that some of the present species might potentially be at high risk. Relatively high DDT concentrations were found in tropical water species, which could be attributed to the current usage of DDT in the tropics and the less movable nature of this compound via long-range atmospheric transport. The HCH levels in animals inhabiting cold and temperate waters were higher than those inhabiting tropical waters, a result that was perhaps reflective of atmospheric transport from the tropical source to the northern sinks. A similar pattern was also observed in PCBs, CHLs and HCB, probably indicating the ongoing discharge of these compounds from mid-latitudes as well as those originating in tropical regions.