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Author
Stukel, M.R. ; Aluwihare, L.I. ; Barbeau, K.A. ; Chekalyuk, A.M. ; Goericke, R. ; Miller, A.J. ; Ohman, M.D. ; Ruacho, A. ; Song, H. ; Stephens, B.M. ; Landry, M.R.
Title
Mesoscale ocean fronts enhance carbon export due to gravitational sinking and subduction
Type
$loc['typeJournal Article']
Year
2017
Publication
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Abbreviated Journal
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume
114
Issue
6
Pages
1252-1257
Keywords
biological carbon pump ; carbon cycle ; particle flux ; particulate organic carbon ; plankton
Abstract
Enhanced vertical carbon transport (gravitational sinking and subduction) at mesoscale ocean fronts may explain the demonstrated imbalance of new production and sinking particle export in coastal upwelling ecosystems. Based on flux assessments from 238U:234Th disequilibrium and sediment traps, we found 2 to 3 times higher rates of gravitational particle export near a deep-water front (305 mg Cm-2d-1) compared with adjacent water or to mean (nonfrontal) regional conditions. Elevated particle flux at the front was mechanistically linked to Fe-stressed diatoms and high mesozooplankton fecal pellet production. Using a data assimilative regional ocean model fit to measured conditions, we estimate that an additional approximately 225 mg Cm-2d-1 was exported as subduction of particle-rich water at the front, highlighting a transport mechanism that is not captured by sediment traps and is poorly quantified by most models and in situ measurements. Mesoscale fronts may be responsible for over a quarter of total organic carbon sequestration in the California Current and other coastal upwelling ecosystems.
Address
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
Corporate Author
Thesis
Publisher
Place of Publication
Editor
Language
English
Summary Language
Original Title
Series Editor
Series Title
Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume
Series Issue
Edition
ISSN
0027-8424
ISBN
Medium
Area
Expedition
Conference
Funding
PMID:28115723; PMCID:PMC5307443
Approved
$loc['no']
Call Number
COAPS @ mfield @
Serial
67
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