Nitrogen, Oxygen and Argon Dissolved in the Northern North Pacific in Early Summer

Major gases dissolved in seawater were accurately determined with a shipboard gas chromatographic method. The standard deviations were 0.28, 0.34 and 0.36% for N₂, O₂ and Ar, respectively. The method was applied to water from the northwestern North Pacific Ocean collected in May to June 2000. We got 127 duplicate seawater samples from the surface 200 m layer at 11 stations. The O₂ concentrations obtained by this method agreed with those given by the Winkler method. All the seawater samples from the surface 200 m, especially those from the upper 30 m, were supersaturated with respect to atmospheric N₂ and Ar concentrations. In the topmost 30 m layer, the degrees of supersaturation in the inventory were 2.7–4.3% for N₂ (ΔN₂) and 1.7–2.6% for Ar (ΔAr), and their ratios, ΔN₂/ΔAr, ranged from 1.53 to 1.81. This supersaturation seems to be chiefly due to air bubbles injected into the water and dissolved due to the water pressure, because the N₂/Ar ratio of the air is around 2. The amounts of air bubbles dissolved in the upper 30 m water were relatively large, with mean value of 0.41 ml/kg or 18.4 μmol/kg. The ΔN₂, ΔAr and ΔN₂/ΔAr values were all positively well correlated with the wind velocities averaged for the last 24 hours prior to sampling, allowing the conclusion to be drawn that the weaker the wind velocity, the dissolved gas composition approaches in equilibrium with the air; while the stronger the wind velocity, it approaches in the air composition. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Growth characteristics ofChattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae)

Chattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae), which causes heavy red tides in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, was placed in axenic clonal culture by micropipette washing. The effects of temperature, salinity, light intensity and pH on growth were monitored. Maximum growth occurred at 25°C, at salinities between 25 and 41‰, under light intensities above 0.04 ly min^?1. The pH effect was not significant in the pH range from 7.6 to 8.3. Comparisons of our results with those from field observations suggest that the development of theC. antiqua red tide is strongly temperature dependent.     

Age determination of marine sediments in the western North Pacific by as partic acid chronology

The ages of fossil planktonic foraminifera,Pulleniatina obliquiloculata, in sediments (core 3bPC) from the western North Pacific were determined by aspartic acid chronology, which uses the racemization reaction rate constant of aspartic acid (k_Asp). Aspartic acid racemization-based ages (Asp ages) ranged from 7,600 yrBP at the surface, to 307,000 yrBP at a depth of 352.9 cm in the sediments. This sediment core was also dated by the glacial-interglacial fluctuation of δ¹⁸O chronology, and the ages determined by both chronologies were compared. The ages derived from aspartic acid chronology and δ¹⁸O stratigraphy were more or less consistent, but there appeared to be some differences in age estimates between these two dating methods at some depths within the core. In the core top sediments, the likely cause for the age discrepancy could be the loss of the surface sediment during sampling of the core. At depths of 66.3 and 139 cm within the core, Asp ages indicated reduced sedimentation rates duringca. 60,000-80,000 yrBP andca. 140,000–190,000 yrBP. The maximum age differences in both chronologies are 33,000 yr and 46,600 yr during each of these periods. These anomalous reductions in sedimentation rates occurring during these periods could possibly be related to some geological events, such as an increased dissolution effect of the calcium carbonate in the western North Pacific. Another possible reason for these age differences could be the unreliability in δ¹⁸O ages of core 3bPC as they were estimated by δ¹⁸O ages of another core, 3aPC.     

Simultaneous vertical measurements of in situ pH and CO2 in the sea using spectrophotometric profilers

We have developed new systems capable of profiling to >1000 m for measuring in situ pH and fugacity of CO₂ (fCO₂) in the ocean using spectrophotometric analysis (pH and CO₂ profilers). The in situ pH is determined by detecting the color change of the pH indicator (m-cresol purple). It can withstand ambient pressure to 1000 m depth. The CO₂ profiler analyzed in situ fCO₂ by detecting the change of pH in an inner solution, equilibrated with the seawater through a gas permeable membrane. It can be operated to 2500 m depth. We used an amorphous fluoropolymer tubing form of AF-2400 for the gas permeable membrane due to its high gas permeability coefficients. The inner solution was a mixture of 2 μM bromocresol purple (BCP) and 5 μM sodium hydroxide. This system gave us a response time of 1 minute, which is twice as fast as previous systems. The precisions of pH and CO₂ profilers were within 0.002 and 2.5% respectively. We have used these profilers to study the North Pacific, obtaining good agreement with the difference between the data from profilers and a discrete bottle of 0.002 ± 0.005 pH (SE, n = 25) and −0.4 ± 3 μatm (SE, n = 31).     

Using trace elements in skin to discriminate the populations of minke whales in southern hemisphere

Concentrations of 12 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba, and Hg) were determined in liver and skin tissues of minke whales from various regions within the Antarctic Ocean. Cd concentrations in livers of southern minke whale were apparently higher than those in cetaceans from other regions, while Hg concentrations were lower. There were significant positive correlations between body length and concentrations of Cd and Hg in the liver. The concentrations of all trace elements in the skin were lower than those in other cetaceans reported previously. Significant positive correlations between liver and skin were found for Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Cd, and Cs, implying that the concentrations of these trace elements in the skin reflect those of internal organs. Large interannual variation of the accumulation pattern of trace elements in the skin was observed for the southern minke whales from Area V. There were significant differences in the skin element concentrations among Areas III, IV, and V, especially for males. Also, discriminant analysis between geographically two different groups collected during 1995/1996 austral summer season, based on the concentrations of trace elements in the skin, allowed for a correct classification of 90% of these minke whales. These results suggest that measurement of trace elements in skin samples could provide valuable information on the status of contamination and possible geographic differences in the accumulation levels in southern minke whales.     

Utility of an automatic water sampler to observe seasonal variability in nutrients and DIC in the Northwestern North Pacific

Concentrations of nutrients (NO₃, NO₂, Si(OH)₄, PO₄ and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were measured in a series of seawater samples collected over approximately 15 months in 2005 and 2006 by an automatic water sampler (Remote Access Sampler, RAS) in the Northwestern North Pacific. Seasonal variability and concentrations of NO₃ + NO₂ (NO_x and Si(OH)₄ were comparable to previous shipboard observations, although there were small errors associated with measurements of PO₄ and DIC. Concentrations of these nutrients began to decrease in late April. After the end of June, NO_x and Si(OH)₄ decreased rapidly, with large fluctuations. After October, these nutrients increased again until late spring 2006. The ratio of the decrease of Si(OH)₄ to that of NO_x suggests that numbers of biogenic opal-producing creatures, such as diatoms, increased after the end of June. This conclusion was supported by a rapid increase in biogenic opal flux recorded in a sediment trap at 150 m. The relationship between NO_x concentrations at the RAS depth of 35 m and NO_x integrated over the upper 100 m was determined using previous shipboard hydrocast data. This relationship was used to estimate integrated mixed layer NO_x concentration from RAS data. Estimated new production based on seasonal drawdown of integrated NO_x averaged approximately 156 mg-C m⁻²day⁻¹ annually, which agrees with previous estimates. Thus, an automatic seawater sampler that documents annual maximum and minimum nutrient concentrations and episodic events such as storms and spring blooms, which might be missed by an ordinary research vessel, will contribute to time-series observations of nutrients and, by extension, biological pump activity.     

Origin and decomposition of sinking particulate organic matter in the deep water column inferred from the vertical distributions of its δN, δ and δ

Sinking particles were analyzed for their nitrogen isotopic ratio δ¹⁵N) of total particulate nitrogen (PN), stable carbon isotopic ratio (δ¹³C) and radioactive isotopic ratio (δ¹⁴C) of total particulate organic carbon (POC), at three different latitudinal (temperate, subpolar and equatorial) and geomorphological (trench, proximal abyssal plain and distal abyssal plain) sites in the western North Pacific Ocean using year-long time series sediment trap systems, to clarify the common vertical trends of the isotopic signals in deep water columns. Although the δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values of sinking particulate organic matter (POM) were partly affected by the resuspension of sedimentary POM from the sea floor, especially in the trench, the changes in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values owing to the resuspension could be corrected by calculation of the isotopic mass balance from δ¹⁴C of sinking POC. After this correction, common downward decreasing trends in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values were obtained in the deep water columns, irrespective of the latitudes and depths. These coincidental isotopic signals between δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values provide new constraints for the decomposition process of sinking POM, such as the preferential degradation of ¹⁵N- and ¹³C-rich compounds and the successive re-formation of the sinking particles by higher trophic level organisms in the deep water column.     

Large but variable particulate flux in the Antarctic Ocean and its significance for the chemistry of Antarctic water

Settling particles were collected at 1,460 m and 3,760 m depth in the Antarctic Ocean with sediment traps of time series type. The total deployment period of 40 days was divided into four terms of 10 days each. Seawater samples were collected both at deployment and retrieval of the traps at each site. During the 42 days the concentration of silicate in the surface water decreased by 32%, whereas those of nitrate and phosphate decreased by only 4–5%. The total particulate flux in the Antarctic Ocean is the largest among those hitherto observed in the world ocean. The time variation of the particulate flux at 1,460 m depth almost coincided with that at 3,760 m. The settling particles were comprised roughly of 80% biogenic silica, 15% organic matter and 5% other substances including sea salt. The clay fraction was only 0.05% at 1,460 m depth. The settling flux of biogenic silica agrees fairly well with the calculated rate of change in the concentration of silicate in the surface 100 m. Thus it is concluded that preferential propagation of diatoms reduces the concentration of silicate prior to other nutrients in the Antarctic Ocean.     

Chlorofluorocarbons in the western North Pacific in 1993 and formation of North Pacific intermediate water

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC-11 and CFC-12) in the intermediate water having between 26.4 and 27.2 were determined at 75 stations in the western North Pacific north of 20°N and west of 175.5°E in 1993. The intermediate water of 26.4–26.6 was almost saturated with respect to the present atmospheric CFC-11 in the zone between 35 and 45°N around the subarctic front. Furthermore, the ratios of CFC-11/CFC-12 of the water were also of those formed after 1975. These suggest that the upper intermediate water (26.4–26.6) was recently formed by cooling and sinking of the surface water not by mixing with old waters. The water below the isopycnal surface of 26.8 contained less CFCs and the area containing higher CFCs around the subarctic front was greatly reduced. However, the CFC age of the lower intermediate water (26.8–27.2) in the zone around the subarctic front was not old, suggesting that the water was formed by diapycnal mixing of the water ventilated with the atmosphere with old waters not containing appreciable CFCs, probably the Pacific Deep Water. The southward spreading rate decreased with depth and it was one sixth of its eastward spreading rate of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW).     

Growth inhibition of a red tide flagellate,Chattonella antiqua by copper

Journal of Oceanography - Copper toxicity inChattonella antiqua (Raphidophyceae) was examined using an artificial seawater medium. The growth rate (Μ) was found to be a unique function of...