Long-term Sensor Drift Found in Recovered Argo Profiling Floats

We recovered three Argo profiling floats after 2 to 2.5 years of operation, and recalibrated their temperature, conductivity, and pressure sensors. The results demonstrate that these floats exhibited a significant drift in salinity of −0.0074 to −0.0125, primarily due to the conductivity sensor drift. Combined with the recalibration result for another previously recovered float, the indication is that the negative salinity drift increases nearly in proportion to the operating period of floats. The increasing rate is −0.0041 (±0.0015) year⁻¹, which yields a salinity drift of −0.016 (±0.006) for the expected float lifetime of four years. The present result suggests that reducing the float surfacing time would improve the accuracy of the salinity measurements.     

The effect of pressure on the solubility of amorphous silica in seawater at 0°C

The solubility of amorphous silica in seawater at 0°C and from 1 to 1,220 atm. was found to be a linear function of pressure above 270 atm., but to deviate from linearity below that pressure. Using a quadratic derivation of Planck's equation, ΔV for the dissolution was found to be −16.5 cm³mole⁻¹, and Δk was found to be −4.4 · 10⁻² cm³ mole⁻¹ atm⁻¹∂Δk/∂P was found to be 27.2 · 10⁻⁵ cm³ mole⁻¹ atm⁻² which is too significant a factor to allow the commonly made assumption that ∂Δk/∂P =0. North's (1973) model of hydration suggests that this non-zero ∂Δk/∂P may indicate that the silicic acid molecule is more extensively hydrated at lower pressures.If the pressure in an experiment is suddenly lowered to atmospheric pressure after equilibrium solubility had been attained at the higher pressure, the precipitation that occurs to reduce the resulting supersaturation is complete within one hour in the experimental system used in this study.     

Solubility of calcite in the ocean

The apparent solubility product K′_sp of calcite in seawater was measured as a function of temperature, salinity, and pressure using potentiometric saturometry techniques. The temperature effect was hardly discernible experimentally. The value of K′_sp at 25°C was 4.59·10⁻⁷ mole²/(kg seawater)² at 35‰S, 5.34·10⁻⁷ at 43‰S, and 3.24·10⁻⁷ at 27‰S. The apparent partial molal volume was found to be −34.4 cm³ at 25°C and −42.3 cm³ at 2°C from a linear fit of log(K′_sp ^P/K′_sp ¹). These results were used in conjunction with field data to calculate the degree of saturation in the oceans and showed undersaturation at shallower depths than previously reported.     

Partitioning of organic matter in continental margin sediments among density fractions

Hydrodynamic processes sort and redistribute organic matter (OM) and minerals on continental margins. Density fractionations were conducted on sediments from diverse margins (Mexico margin, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River delta, Eel River margin) to investigate the nature, provenance and age of OM among density fractions. Mass, elemental (C and N), lignin, and surface area distributions, as well as stable carbon and radiocarbon isotopic compositions were measured. The lowest density fractions (< 1.6 g cm^− 3) contained the highest organic carbon (OC) (up to 45%) and lignin concentrations (up to 8 mg g^− 1) due to abundant woody debris, whereas high density fractions (> 2.5 g cm^− 3) were OC-poor (%OC < 0.5) mineral material. Most sediment mass was found in the mesodensity fractions (1.6 to 2.5 g cm^− 3) that contained the highest proportion of OC (up to ~ 75%) for each sediment. Stable carbon isotope compositions (δ¹³C − 25.5‰ to − 22.9‰) show terrigenous OC as a significant component of density isolates from the river-dominated sediments (Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, and Eel margin), whereas the Mexico margin, least influenced by riverine input, was dominated by autochthonous marine OC (δ¹³C ~ − 21.5‰). Radiocarbon compositions of density fractions indicate significant pre-aged OC (Δ¹⁴C as low as − 900‰) in river-influenced sediments but not on the Mexico margin (Δ¹⁴C > − 200‰). Ratios of vanillic acid to vanillin (Ad/Al)v among lignin oxidation products increase with increasing particle density suggesting variable lignin sources or selective degradation of lignin among the different density fractions.     

Recent sediment transport and accumulation on the NW Iberian margin

Five transects across the NW Iberian margin were studied in the framework of the EU-funded Ocean Margin EXchange II (OMEX II) project, to determine and establish recent sediment and organic carbon transport and accumulation processes and fluxes.On the Galician shelf and shelf edge, resuspension of sediments resulting in well-developed bottom nepheloid layers was observed at all stations, but transport of suspended sediment appears largely confined to the shelf. On the continental slope, only very dilute bottom nepheloid layers were present, and intermediate nepheloid layers were only occasionally seen. This suggests that cross-slope transfer of particles is limited by the prevailing northerly directed shelf and slope currents.Optical backscatter and ADCP current measurements by the BOBO lander, deployed at 2152 m depth on the Galician slope, indicated that particles in the bottom boundary layer were kept in suspension by tidal currents with highest speeds between 15–25 cm s⁻¹. Net currents during the recording period August 6th–September 10th 1998, were initially directed along-slope toward the NNW, but later turned off-slope toward the SW.The separation of the water masses on the slope from the sediment-laden shelf water by the along-slope current regime is reflected in the recent sedimentary deposits of the Galician shelf and slope. Apart from compositional differences, shelf deposits differ from those on the slope by their higher flux of excess ²¹⁰Pb (0.57–5.37 dpm cm⁻²y⁻¹ versus 0.11–3.00 dpm cm⁻²y⁻¹), a much higher sediment accumulation rate (315.6–2295.9 g m⁻²y⁻¹ versus 10.9–124.7 g m⁻²y⁻¹) and organic carbon burial rate (1.01–34.30 g m⁻²y⁻¹ versus 0.01–0.69 g m⁻²y⁻¹).In contrast to the observations on the Galician margin, pronounced nepheloid layers occurred in the Nazaré Canyon, which extended to considerably greater water depths. This indicates that significantly greater transport of fine-grained particles in both the INL and the BNL was occurring within the canyon, as reflected in the exceptionally high ²¹⁰Pb excess flux (up to 34.09 dpm cm⁻²y⁻¹), mass accumulation rates (maximum 9623.1 g m⁻²y⁻¹) and carbon burial fluxes (up to 180.91 g m⁻²y⁻¹) in the sediment. However, radioisotope fluxes in the lower canyon were only slightly higher than at comparable depths on the Galician margin. This suggests that transport and rapid accumulation is focused on the upper and middle part of the canyon, from where it is episodically released to the deep sea. Compared to the Galician margin, the Nazaré Canyon may be considered as an important organic carbon depocenter on short time-scales, and a major conduit for particulate matter transport to the deep sea on >100 y time-scales.     

A Gibbs–Pitzer function for high-salinity seawater thermodynamics

A high-salinity Gibbs function for seawater is derived from Pitzer equations of the sea salt components, in conjunction with the 2003 Gibbs function of seawater for low salinities. Various properties, computed from both formulations by thermodynamic rules, are compared with each other, and with high-salinity measurements. The new Gibbs–Pitzer function presented in this paper is valid in the range 0–110 g kg⁻¹ in absolute salinity, −7 to +25 °C in temperature, and 0–100 MPa in applied pressure. The formulation is expressed in the International Temperature Scale 1990 (ITS-90), and is consistent with the International Standard for Fluid Water (IAPWS-95), and with the 2005/2006 equations of state of ice Ih.     

Seasonal and daily variation of mercury evasion at coastal and off shore sites from the Mediterranean Sea

Dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) was measured continuously using two newly developed techniques and a manual technique. The continuous techniques were based on the equilibrium between the aqueous and gaseous phase (DGM = Hg_extr / H', Hg_extr is the measured mercury concentration in the gas phase, H' is the Henry's Law coefficient at the desired temperature). In order to calculate the annual mercury evasion from the Mediterranean Sea, diurnal and seasonal measurements of DGM, total gaseous mercury in air (TGM), water temperature and wind speed were performed. During August 2003, March–April 2004 and October–November 2004 measurements of these parameters were conducted on board the RV Urania. The continuous measurements of DGM showed a diurnal variation in concentration, at both coastal and off shore sites, with higher concentrations during daytime than nighttime. The concentration difference could be as large as 130 fM between day and night. The degree of saturation was calculated directly from the measurements, S = Hg_extr / TGM and was found to vary between the different seasons. The highest average degree of saturation (850%) and the largest variation in saturation (600–1150%) was observed during the summer. The spring showed the lowest variation (260–360%) and the lowest average degree of saturation (320%). The autumn also showed a large variation in saturation (500–1070%) but a lower average (740%) compared to the summer cruise. This might be explained by the temperature difference between the different seasons, since that parameter varied the most. The flux from the sea surface was calculated using the gas exchange model developed by Nightingale et al. [Nightingale, P.D., Malin, G., Law, C.S., Watson, A.J., Liss, P.S., Liddicoat, M.I., Boutin, J., Upstill-Goddard, R. C., 2000. In situ evaluation of air–sea gas exchange parameterization using novel conservative and volatile tracers. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 14(1):373–387]. The evasion varied between the different seasons with the highest evasion during the autumn, 24.6 pmol m^− 2 h^− 1. The summer value was estimated to 22.3 pmol m^− 2 h^− 1 and the spring to 7.6 pmol m^− 2 h^− 1. Using this data the yearly evasion from the Mediterranean Sea surface was estimated to 77 tons.     

The solubility of CaCO3 in seawater at 2°C based upon in-situ sampled pore water composition

Analyses of the concentration product (Ca²⁺) × (CO₃²⁻) in the pore waters of marine sediments have been used to estimate the apparent solubility products of sedimentary calcite (K′_SPc) and aragonite (K′_SPa) in seawater. Regression of the data gives the relation In K′^P_SPc = 1.94 × 10⁻³ δP − 14.59 The 2°C, 1 atm value of K′_SPc is, then, 4.61 × 10⁻⁷ mol² l⁻². The pressure coefficient yields a at 2°C of −43.8 cm³ atm⁻¹. A single station where aragonite is present in the sediments gives a value of K′_SPa = 9.2 × 10⁻⁷ (4°C, 81 atm). The calcite data are very similar to those determined experimentally by Ingle et al. (1973) for K′_SPc at 2°C and 1 atm. The calculated is also indistinguishable from the experimental results of Ingle (1975) if is assumed to be independent of pressure.     

Temporal variability of dimethylsulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate in the Sargasso Sea

Vertical profiles of dimethylsulfide (DMS) and β-dimethylsulfoniopropionate, particulate (pDMSP) and dissolved (dDMSP), were measured biweekly in the upper 140 m of the Sargasso Sea (32°10′N, 64°30′W) during 1992 and 1993. DMS and pDMSP showed strong, but different, seasonal patterns; no distinct intra-annual pattern was observed for dDMSP. During winter, concentrations of DMS were generally less than 1 nmol l⁻¹ at all depths, dDMSP was less than 3 nmol l⁻¹ and pDMSP was less than 8 nmol l⁻¹. In spring, concentrations of both dDMSP and pDMSP rose, on a few occasions up to 20 nmol l⁻¹ in the dissolved pool and up to 27 nmol l⁻¹ in the particulate pool. These increases, due to blooms of DMSP-containing phytoplankton, resulted in only minor increases in DMS concentrations (up to 4 nmol l⁻¹). Throughout the summer, the concentrations of DMS continued to increase, reaching a maximum in August of 12 nmol l⁻¹ (at 30 m depth). There was no concomitant summer increase in dDMSP or pDMSP. The differences among the seasonal patterns of DMS, dDMSP, and pDMSP suggest that the physical and biological processes involved in the cycling of DMS change with the seasons. There is a correlation between the concentration of DMS and temperature in this data set, as required by some of the climate feedback models that have been suggested for DMS. A full understanding of the underlying processes controlling DMS is required to determine if the temperature-DMS pattern is of significance in the context of global climate change.     

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

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

The dissociation constants of carbonic acid in seawater at salinities 5 to 45 and temperatures 0 to 45°C

The pK₁^* and pK₂^* for the dissociation of carbonic acid in seawater have been determined from 0 to 45°C and S = 5 to 45. The values of pK₁^* have been determined from emf measurements for the cell:

Pt](1 − X)H2 + XCO2|NaHCO3, CO2 in synthetic seawater|AgC1; Ag

where X is the mole fraction of CO₂ in the gas. The values of pK₂^* have been determined from emf measurements on the cell:

Pt, H2(g, 1 atm)|Na2CO3, NaHCO3 in synthethic seawater|AgC1; Ag

The results have been fitted to the equations:

lnK^*₁ = 2.83655 − 2307.1266/T − 1.5529413 lnT + (−0.20760841 − 4.0484/T)S^0.5 + 0.08468345S − 0.00654208S¹

InK^*₂ = −9.226508 − 3351.6106/T− 0.2005743 lnT + (−0.106901773 − 23.9722/T)S^0.5 + 0.1130822S − 0.00846934S^1.5

where T is the temperature in K, S is the salinity, and the standard deviations of the fits are σ = 0.0048 in lnK₁^* and σ = 0.0070 in lnK₂^*.Our new results are in good agreement at S = 35 (±0.002 in pK₁^*and ±0.005 in pK₂^*) from 0 to 45°C with the earlier results of Goyet and Poisson (1989). Since our measurements are more precise than the earlier measurements due to the use of the Pt, H₂|AgCl, Ag electrode system, we feel that our equations should be used to calculate the components of the carbonate system in seawater.     

Evidence for microbiological manganese oxidation in the river Tamar Estuary, South West England

Water samples from the Tamar Estuary oxidized manganese when supplemented with Mn²⁺ (2 mgl⁻¹). The rates of oxidation were depressed in the presence of various metabolic inhibitors. The effect of Mn²⁺ and temperature on the rate of manganese oxidation suggested that a biological process was largely responsible for converting Mn²⁺ to Mn⁴⁺. Rates of manganese oxidation were much higher in freshwater (3·32 μgl⁻¹ h⁻¹ in water containing 30 mgl⁻¹ of suspended matter) than in saline water (0·7 μgl⁻¹ h⁻¹ in water of salinity 32‰) containing the same amount of particulate matter. The rate of manganese oxidation was proportional to the particulate load (up to 100 mgl⁻¹ particulates).     

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

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

Alkalinity titration in seawater: How accurately can the data be fitted by an equilibrium model?

Displaying “calculated minus observed” data for precise titrations of seawater with strong acid permits direct evaluation of important parameters and detection of systematic errors.At least two data sets from the GEOSECS (Geochemical Ocean Sections) program fit an equilibrium model (which includes carbonate, borate, sulfate, silicate, fluoride, and phosphate) within the most stringent experimental error, less than 2 μmol kg⁻¹. The effect of various parameters on the fit of calculated to observed values depends strongly on pH. Although standard potential E₀, total alkalinity A_t, total carbonate C_t, and first acidity constant of carbon dioxide pK₁ are nearly independent, and can be determined for each data set, other parameters are strongly correlated. Within such groups, all but one parameter must be determined from data other than the titration curve.Adding an acid-base pair to the theoretical model (e.g. C_x=20 μmol kg⁻¹, pK_x=6.2) produces a deviation approaching 20 μmol kg⁻¹ at constant C_t; however, adjustment of C_t by about −18 μmol kg⁻¹ to produce a good fit leaves only ± 1.5 μmol kg⁻¹ residual deviation from the reference values. Thus, at current standards of precision, an unidentified weak acid cannot be distinguished from carbonate purely on the basis of the titration curve shape.There are few full sets of numerical data published, and most show larger systematic errors (3–12 μmol l⁻¹) than the above; one well-defined source is experiments performed in unsealed vessels. Total carbonate can be explicitly obtained as a function of pH by a rearrangement of the titration curve equation; this can reveal a systematic decrease in C_t in the pH range 5–6, as a result of CO₂ gas loss from the titration vessel. Attempts to compensate for this by adjustment of A_t, C_t, or pK₁ produce deviations which mimic those produced by an additional acid-base pair.Changing from the free H⁺ scale (for which [HSO₄⁻] and [HF] are explicit terms in the alkalinity) to the seawater scale (SWS) (where those terms are part of a constant factor multiplying [H⁺]) requires modification of the titration curve equation as well as adjustment of acidity constants. Even with this change, however, omission of pH-dependent terms in [HSO₄⁻] and [HF] produces small systematic errors at low pH.Shifts in liquid junction potential also introduce small systematic errors, but are significant only at pH <3. High-pH errors due to response of the glass electrode to Na⁺ as well as H⁺ can be adequately compensated to pH 9.5 by a linear selectivity expression.     

A nitrate and silicate budget in the equatorial Pacific Ocean: a coupled physical–biological model study

A coupled physical–biological model was developed to simulate the low-silicate, high-nitrate, and low-chlorophyll (LSHNLC) conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and used to compute a detailed budget in the Wyrtki box (5°N–5°S, 180–90°W) for the major sources and cycling of nitrogen and silicon in the equatorial Pacific. With the incorporation of biogenic silicon dissolution, NH₄ regeneration from organic nitrogen and nitrification of ammonia in the model, we show that silicon recycling in the upper ocean is less efficient than nitrogen. As the major source of nutrients to the equatorial Pacific, the Equatorial Undercurrent provides slightly less Si(OH)₄ than NO₃ to the upwelling zone, which is defined as 2.5°N–2.5°S. As a result, the equatorial upwelling supplies less Si(OH)₄ than NO₃ into the euphotic zone in the Wyrtki box, having a Si/N supply ratio of about 0.85 (2.5 vs. 2.96 mmolm⁻² day⁻¹). More Si(OH)₄ than NO₃ is taken up with a Si/N ratio of 1.17 (2.72 vs. 2.33 mmolm⁻² day⁻¹) within the euphotic zone. The difference between upwelling supply and biological uptake is balanced by nutrient regeneration and horizontal advection. Excluding regeneration, the net silicate and nitrate uptakes are nearly equal (1.76 vs. 1.84 mmolm⁻² day⁻¹). However, biogenic silica export production is slightly higher than organic nitrogen (1.74 vs. 1.59 mmolm⁻² day⁻¹) following a 1.1 Si/N ratio. In the central equatorial Pacific, low silicate concentrations limit diatom growth; therefore non-diatom new production accounts for most of the new production. Higher silicate supply in the east maintains elevated diatom growth rates and new production associated with diatoms dominate upwelling zone. In contrast, the new production associated with small phytoplankton is nearly constant or decreases eastward along the equator. The total new production has a higher rate in the east than in the west, following the pattern of surface silicate. This suggests that silicate regulates the diatom production, total new production, and thereby carbon cycle in this area. The modeled mean primary production is 48.4 mmolCm⁻² day⁻¹, representing the lower end of direct field measurements, while new production is 15.0 mmolCm⁻² day⁻¹, which compares well with previous estimates.     

Relationships between macroalgal biomass and nutrient concentrations in a hypertrophic area of the Venice Lagoon

Macroalgae biomass and concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll a were determined weekly or biweekly in water and sediments, during the spring-summer of 1985 in a hypertrophic area of the lagoon of Venice. Remarkable biomass production (up to 286 g m⁻² day⁻¹, wet weight), was interrupted during three periods of anoxia, when macroalgal decomposition (rate: up to 1000 g m⁻² day⁻¹) released extraordinary amounts of nutrients. Depending on the macroalgae distribution in the water column, the nutrients released in water varied from 3·3 to 19·1 μg-at litre⁻¹ for total inorganic nitrogen and from 1·8 to 2·7 μg-at litre⁻¹ for reactive phosphorus. Most nutrients, however, accumulated in the surficial sediment (up to 0·640 and to 3·06 mg g⁻¹ for P and N respectively) redoubling the amounts already stored under aerobic conditions, Phytoplankton, systematically below 5 mg m⁻³ as Chl. a, sharply increased up to 100 mg m⁻³ only after the release of nutrients in water by anaerobic macroalgal decomposition. During the algal growth periods, the N:P atomic ratio in water decreased to 0·7, suggesting that nitrogen is a growth-limiting factor. This ratio for surficial sediment was between 6·6 and 13·1, similar to that of macroalgae (8·6–12·0).     

Influence of water temperature and oxygenation on the aerobic metabolic scope of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Environmental influences (temperature and oxygenation) on cod metabolism and their impact on the ecology of this species were investigated. Limiting oxygen concentration curves (O₂ level ranging between 15 and 100% air saturation) were established at 2, 5 and 10°C. The standard metabolic rate (SMR), the maximum metabolic rate and the metabolic scope were then modelled as functions of temperature and/or oxygen saturation. The mean SMR at 2, 5 and 10°C were 19.8±4.9, 30.8±6.1 and 54.3±4.1 mg O₂ h⁻¹ kg⁻¹, respectively. Between 2 and 5°C, the active metabolic rate of cod almost doubled from 65 to 120 mg O₂ h⁻¹ kg⁻¹, to reach 177 mg O₂ h⁻¹ kg⁻¹ at 10°C. In terms of metabolic scope (MS), the temperature rise from 2 to 5°C resulted in a two-fold increase from 45 to 89 mg O₂ h⁻¹ kg⁻¹, with MS reaching 123 mg O₂ h⁻¹ kg⁻¹ at 10°C. Our proposed model describing the impact of temperature and oxygen level provides new insight into the energetic interactions which govern the relationship between Atlantic cod and its environment. We re-examined published experimental and field studies from the angle of the regulation of metabolic power. We suggest that, when faced with heterogeneous or unstable hydrological conditions, cod tend to behaviourally maximise their metabolic scope. Through this adaptive response, fish reduce energy budgeting conflicts and presumably increase the probability of routinely operating away from lethal boundaries.     

Measurement of dissolved oxygen using optodes in a FerryBox system

Optode sensors can provide detailed information on concentrations of dissolved oxygen, which in turn may be used to quantify variations in net primary productivity. Throughout 2005 and 2006 the performance of commercially available oxygen optodes was examined, one in each year. The optode was part of an autonomous measurement system (FerryBox) on a ferry operating between Portsmouth (UK) and Bilbao (Spain). On crossings during which water samples were collected manually, the optode outputs were compared to measurements of dissolved oxygen made by Winkler titrations. The optodes maintained good stability with no evidence of instrumental drift during the course of a year. Over the observed concentration range (230–330 mM m⁻³) the optode data were approximately 2% low in both years. By fitting the optode data to the Winkler data the median difference between the optode and Winkler measurements is reduced to less than 1 mM m⁻³ (0.3%) in both years. The most appropriate calibration factor for 2005 was corrected O₂ = Optode O₂ × 1.018 and for 2006 the corresponding equation is corrected O₂ = Optode O₂ × 0.884 + 36.8. The standard deviation (95%) of the difference between the individual Winkler measurements was 5 mM m⁻³ and 3 mM m⁻³ in 2005 and 2006 respectively.Calculation of the oxygen saturation anomaly is required for calculation of the air sea exchange of oxygen and net biological production. This calculation requires the use of both salinity and temperature data. Salinity is measured to better than 0.1 so the corresponding error in anomaly is less than 0.2 mM m⁻³. Distortion of the temperature data is present due to warming of the water pumped to the optode. In winter this warming at the optode may be as great as 0.4 °C. The difference in the pumped water temperature can be corrected for by reference to other measurements of sea surface temperature reducing the error to less than 1 mM m⁻³.     

Inverse-estuarine Features of the Upper Gulf of California

The Upper Gulf of California is the shallow (depth <30 m), tidal area at the head of the Gulf of California. It is an inverse estuary, due to the high evaporation rate (E1·1 m year⁻¹) and almost nil freshwater input from rainfall and the Colorado River. Historical and recent hydrographic data show that the area is almost vertically well-mixed throughout the year, that the horizontal distribution of properties follows the bathymetry, and that the hydrography has a strong annual modulation. As in other negative estuaries, the year-round salinity increase toward the head causes the density to do likewise, despite the seasonally reversing temperature gradient. The pressure gradient thus formed leads to water-mass formation and gravity currents (speed 0·1 ms⁻¹), both in winter and in summer. In winter, the high salinity water sinks beyond 200 m, while in summer it only reaches a depth of 20–30 m. The gravity currents appear to be modulated by the fortnightly tidal cycle, with events in neap tides. This phenomenon causes the presence, at least during neap tides, of slight stratification (Δσ_t≈−0·2).