scholarly journals Correcting oceanic O2 /Ar-net community production estimates for vertical mixing using N2 O observations

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (24) ◽  
pp. 8961-8970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Cassar ◽  
Cynthia D. Nevison ◽  
Manfredi Manizza
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 15399-15433
Author(s):  
E. Jeansson ◽  
R. G. J. Bellerby ◽  
I. Skjelvan ◽  
H. Frigstad ◽  
S. R. Ólafsdóttir ◽  
...  

Abstract. Fluxes of carbon and nutrients to the upper 100 m of the Iceland Sea are evaluated. The study utilises hydro-chemical data from the Iceland Sea time-series station (68.00° N, 12.67° W), for the years between 1993 and 2006. By comparing data of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrients in the surface layer (upper 100 m), and a sub-surface layer (100–200 m), we calculate monthly deficits in the surface, and use these to deduce the surface layer fluxes that affect the deficits: vertical mixing, horizontal advection, air–sea exchange, and biological activity. The deficits show a clear seasonality with a minimum in winter, when the mixed layer is at the deepest, and a maximum in early autumn, when biological uptake has removed much of the nutrients. The annual vertical fluxes of DIC and nitrate amounts to 1.7 ± 0.3 and 0.23 ± 0.07 mol m−2 yr−1, respectively, and the annual air–sea uptake of atmospheric CO2 is 4.4 ± 1.1 mol m−2 yr−1. The biologically driven changes in DIC during the year relates to net community production (NCP), and the net annual NCP corresponds to export production, and is here calculated to 6.1 ± 0.9 mol C m−2 yr−1. The typical, median C : N ratio during the period of net community uptake is 11, and thus clearly higher than Redfield, but is varying during the season.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 875-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jeansson ◽  
R. G. J. Bellerby ◽  
I. Skjelvan ◽  
H. Frigstad ◽  
S. R. Ólafsdóttir ◽  
...  

Abstract. This study evaluates long-term mean fluxes of carbon and nutrients to the upper 100 m of the Iceland Sea. The study utilises hydro-chemical data from the Iceland Sea time series station (68.00° N, 12.67° W), for the years between 1993 and 2006. By comparing data of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and nutrients in the surface layer (upper 100 m), and a sub-surface layer (100–200 m), we calculate monthly deficits in the surface, and use these to deduce the long-term mean surface layer fluxes that affect the deficits: vertical mixing, horizontal advection, air–sea exchange, and biological activity. The deficits show a clear seasonality with a minimum in winter, when the mixed layer is at the deepest, and a maximum in early autumn, when biological uptake has removed much of the nutrients. The annual vertical fluxes of DIC and nitrate amounts to 2.9 ± 0.5 and 0.45 ± 0.09 mol m−2 yr−1, respectively, and the annual air–sea uptake of atmospheric CO2 is 4.4 ± 1.1 mol C m−2 yr−1. The biologically driven changes in DIC during the year relates to net community production (NCP), and the net annual NCP corresponds to export production, and is here calculated as 7.3 ± 1.0 mol C m−2 yr−1. The typical, median C : N ratio during the period of net community uptake is 9.0, and clearly higher than the Redfield ratio, but is varying during the season.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Izett ◽  
Roberta C. Hamme ◽  
Craig McNeil ◽  
Cara C. M. Manning ◽  
Annie Bourbonnais ◽  
...  

We compared field measurements of the biological O2 saturation anomalies, ΔO2/Ar and ΔO2/N2, from simultaneous oceanographic deployments of a membrane inlet mass spectrometer and optode/gas tension device (GTD). Data from the Subarctic Northeast Pacific and Canadian Arctic Ocean were used to evaluate ΔO2/N2 as an alternative to ΔO2/Ar for estimates of mixed layer net community production (NCP). We observed strong spatial coherence between ΔO2/Ar and ΔO2/N2, with small offsets resulting from differences in the solubility properties of Ar and N2 and their sensitivity to vertical mixing fluxes. Larger offsets between the two tracers were observed across hydrographic fronts and under elevated sea states, resulting from the differential time-response of the optode and GTD, and from bubble dissolution in the ship’s seawater lines. We used a simple numerical framework to correct for physical sources of divergence between N2 and Ar, deriving the tracer ΔO2/N2′. Over most of our survey regions, ΔO2/N2′ provided a better analog for ΔO2/Ar, and thus more accurate NCP estimates than ΔO2/N2. However, in coastal Arctic waters, ΔO2/N2 and ΔO2/N2′ performed equally well as NCP tracers. On average, mixed layer NCP estimated from ΔO2/Ar and ΔO2/N2′ agreed to within ∼2 mmol O2 m–2 d–1, with offsets typically smaller than other errors in NCP calculations. Our results demonstrate a significant potential to derive NCP from underway O2/N2 measurements across various oceanic regions. Optode/GTD systems could replace mass spectrometers for autonomous NCP derivation under many oceanographic conditions, thereby presenting opportunities to significantly expand global NCP coverage from various underway platforms.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Z. Rosengard ◽  
Robert W. Izett ◽  
William J. Burt ◽  
Nina Schuback ◽  
Philippe D. Tortell

Abstract. We report results from two Lagrangian surveys off the coast of Oregon, using continuous ship-board sensors to estimate mixed layer net community production (NCP) from diel cycles in biological oxygen saturation (∆O2 / Ar) and optically-derived estimates of particulate organic carbon (POC) and phytoplankton carbon (Cph). The first drifter survey, conducted in a nearshore upwelling zone during the development of a microplankton bloom, exhibited significant differences in NCP derived from ∆O2 / Ar and POC diel cycles, suggesting the presence of large POC losses from the mixed layer. At this site, we utilized the discrepancy between NCPO2 / Ar and NCPPOC, along with additional constraints derived from mixed layer nutrient inventories and surface water excess nitrous oxide (N2O), to estimate particle export, vertical mixing fluxes and DOC production. We estimate that export, vertical mixing and DOC production account for 13–45 %, 24–38 % and 25–49 % of the daily NCP discrepancy, respectively. In contrast, the second drifter survey occurred in more oligotrophic offshore waters, where NCP derived from ∆O2 / Ar and POC measurements were more closely coupled, suggesting a tighter relationship between production and community respiration. These results support the use of diel POC measurements to accurately estimate NCP in lower productivity waters with limited vertical carbon export. Although diel POC measurements may underestimate NCP in higher productivity waters, our results highlight the potential utility of coupled O2 and optical measurements to estimate the fate of POC in such regions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 4897-4909 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. N. Anthony ◽  
G. Diaz-Pulido ◽  
N. Verlinden ◽  
B. Tilbrook ◽  
A. J. Andersson

Abstract. Ocean acidification is a threat to marine ecosystems globally. In shallow-water systems, however, ocean acidification can be masked by benthic carbon fluxes, depending on community composition, seawater residence time, and the magnitude and balance of net community production (NCP) and calcification (NCC). Here, we examine how six benthic groups from a coral reef environment on Heron Reef (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) contribute to changes in the seawater aragonite saturation state (Ωa). Results of flume studies using intact reef habitats (1.2 m by 0.4 m), showed a hierarchy of responses across groups, depending on CO2 level, time of day and water flow. At low CO2 (350–450 μatm), macroalgae (Chnoospora implexa), turfs and sand elevated Ωa of the flume water by around 0.10 to 1.20 h−1 – normalised to contributions from 1 m2 of benthos to a 1 m deep water column. The rate of Ωa increase in these groups was doubled under acidification (560–700 μatm) and high flow (35 compared to 8 cm s−1). In contrast, branching corals (Acropora aspera) increased Ωa by 0.25 h−1 at ambient CO2 (350–450 μatm) during the day, but reduced Ωa under acidification and high flow. Nighttime changes in Ωa by corals were highly negative (0.6–0.8 h−1) and exacerbated by acidification. Calcifying macroalgae (Halimeda spp.) raised Ωa by day (by around 0.13 h−1), but lowered Ωa by a similar or higher amount at night. Analyses of carbon flux contributions from benthic communities with four different compositions to the reef water carbon chemistry across Heron Reef flat and lagoon indicated that the net lowering of Ωa by coral-dominated areas can to some extent be countered by long water-residence times in neighbouring areas dominated by turfs, macroalgae and carbonate sand.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1451-1469 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Vaquer-Sunyer ◽  
C. M. Duarte ◽  
J. Holding ◽  
A. Regaudie-de-Gioux ◽  
L. S. García-Corral ◽  
...  

Abstract. The metabolism of the Arctic Ocean is marked by extremely pronounced seasonality and spatial heterogeneity associated with light conditions, ice cover, water masses and nutrient availability. Here we report the marine planktonic metabolic rates (net community production, gross primary production and community respiration) along three different seasons of the year, for a total of eight cruises along the western sector of the European Arctic (Fram Strait – Svalbard region) in the Arctic Ocean margin: one at the end of 2006 (fall/winter), two in 2007 (early spring and summer), two in 2008 (early spring and summer), one in 2009 (late spring–early summer), one in 2010 (spring) and one in 2011 (spring). The results show that the metabolism of the western sector of the European Arctic varies throughout the year, depending mostly on the stage of bloom and water temperature. Here we report metabolic rates for the different periods, including the spring bloom, summer and the dark period, increasing considerably the empirical basis of metabolic rates in the Arctic Ocean, and especially in the European Arctic corridor. Additionally, a rough annual metabolic estimate for this area of the Arctic Ocean was calculated, resulting in a net community production of 108 g C m−2 yr−1.


2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 130 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. McKinnon ◽  
J. H. Carleton ◽  
S. Duggan

The Timor Sea is a major conduit of the Indonesian Throughflow characterised by large internal waves and tides. To ascertain whether these result in high pelagic productivity, we conducted experiments to determine the metabolic balance between net community production (NCP) and community respiration (CR) on the Sahul Shelf, the Sahul Shoals and the Yampi Shelf, an area of active hydrocarbon seeps. The barrier to vertical mixing of subthermocline nutrients represented by the halocline allowed new production to dominate in March 2004, whereas production in June 2005 depended on recycled nutrients. CR was correlated with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in 2004, but with chlorophyll in 2005, suggesting that respiration was dominated by microheterotrophs in 2004 but by autotrophs in 2005. Overall, area-specific CR averaged 120 ± 92 (s.d.), 101 ± 52 and 61 ± 6 mmol O2 m–2 day–1, NCP averaged 109 ± 85 (s.d.), 32 ± 41 and 57 ± 10 mmol O2 m–2 day–1, and average gross primary production (= CR+NCP) : R ratios were 1.9, 1.4 and 1.9 on the shelf, at the Sahul Shoals and the Yampi Shelf, respectively. We suggest that differences in water column structure and internal wave activity drive intermittent high production events in a predominantly oligotrophic sea.


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