Hurricanes Enhance Labile Carbon Export to the Deep Ocean

Pedrosa-Pàmies, Rut; Conte, Maureen H.; Weber, John C.; Johnson, Rodney J.

doi:10.1029/2019gl083719

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…The covariation of the heterotrophic activity with the labile phytodetritus flux, producing a pulse of zooplankton-derived POC to the deep waters, is evidenced by the increase of cholesterol fluxes in April and May 2012 (3.20 and 7.23 μg m −2 d −1 , respectively) ( Figure 6A). In the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea (N Atlantic), a similar ecosystem response has been observed as a result of the impact of mesoscale ocean features (fronts and eddies) (Conte et al, 1998(Conte et al, , 2003 and extreme weather events (Pedrosa-Pàmies et al, 2019), locally enhancing vertical advection and stimulating production and sinking export of labile marine carbon to the deep ocean (e.g., increased cholesterol fluxes of 4.95 μg m −2 d −1 at 3,200 m depth after a hurricane passage).…”

Section: Extreme Episodic Event In Spring 2012: Coupling Of Atmosphermentioning

confidence: 64%

Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin

et al. 2021

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Sinking particles are a critical conduit for the export of organic material from surface waters to the deep ocean. Despite their importance in oceanic carbon cycling, little is known about the biotic composition and seasonal variability of sinking particles reaching abyssal depths. Herein, sinking particle flux data, collected in the deep Ierapetra Basin for a three-year period (June 2010 to June 2013), have been examined at the light of atmospheric and oceanographic parameters and main mass components (lithogenic, opal, carbonates, nitrogen, and organic carbon), stable isotopes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and source-specific lipid biomarkers. Our aim is to improve the current understanding of the dynamics of particle fluxes and the linkages between atmospheric dynamics and ocean biogeochemistry shaping the export of organic matter in the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Overall, particle fluxes showed seasonality and interannual variability over the studied period. POC fluxes peaked in spring April–May 2012 (12.2 mg m−2 d−1) related with extreme atmospheric forcing. Summer export was approximately fourfold higher than mean wintertime, fall and springtime (except for the episodic event of spring 2012), fueling efficient organic carbon sequestration. Lipid biomarkers indicate a high relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic, marine- and land-derived POC during both spring (April–May) and summer (June–July) reaching the deep-sea floor. Moreover, our results highlight that both seasonal and episodic pulses are crucial for POC export, while the coupling of extreme weather events and atmospheric deposition can trigger the influx of both marine labile carbon and anthropogenic compounds to the deep Levantine Sea. Finally, the comparison of time series data of sinking particulate flux with the corresponding biogeochemical parameters data previously reported for surface sediment samples from the deep-sea shed light on the benthic–pelagic coupling in the study area. Thus, this study underscores that accounting the seasonal and episodic pulses of organic carbon into the deep sea is critical in modeling the depth and intensity of natural and anthropogenic POC sequestration, and for a better understanding of the global carbon cycle.

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Section: Extreme Episodic Event In Spring 2012: Coupling Of Atmosphermentioning

confidence: 64%

Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin

et al. 2021

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“…The covariation of the heterotrophic activity with the labile phytodetritus flux, producing a pulse of zooplankton-derived POC to the deep waters, is evidenced by the increase of cholesterol fluxes in April and May 2012 (3.20 and 7.23 μg m −2 d −1 , respectively) (Figure 6A). In the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea (N Atlantic), a similar ecosystem response has been observed as a result of the impact of mesoscale ocean features (fronts and eddies) (Conte et al, 1998(Conte et al, , 2003 and extreme weather events (Pedrosa-Pàmies et al, 2019), locally enhancing vertical advection and stimulating production and sinking export of labile marine carbon to the deep ocean (e.g., increased cholesterol fluxes of 4.95 μg m −2 d −1 at 3,200 m depth after a hurricane passage). Sinking particles during this event were relatively depleted in land-derived natural POC and anthropogenic compounds due to dilution from biogenic material.…”

Section: Extreme Episodic Event In Spring 2012: Coupling Of Atmosphermentioning

confidence: 64%

Atmospheric and oceanographic forcing impact on particle flux composition and carbon sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: a three-year time-series study in the deep Ierapetra Basin

Pedrosa-Pàmies¹,

Parinos²,

Sánchez-Vidal³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Sinking particles are a critical conduit for the export of organic material from surface waters to the deep ocean. Despite their importance in oceanic carbon cycling, little is known about the biotic composition and seasonal variability of sinking particles reaching abyssal depths. Herein, sinking particle flux data, collected in the deep Ierapetra Basin for a three-year period (June 2010 to June 2013), have been examined at the light of atmospheric and oceanographic parameters and main mass components (lithogenic, opal, carbonates, nitrogen, and organic carbon), stable isotopes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and source-specific lipid biomarkers. Our aim is to improve the current understanding of the dynamics of particle fluxes and the linkages between atmospheric dynamics and ocean biogeochemistry shaping the export of organic matter in the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS). Overall, particle fluxes showed seasonality and interannual variability over the studied period. POC fluxes peaked in spring April-May 2012 (12.2&#8201;mg&#8201;m&#8722;2&#8201;d&#8722;1) related with extreme atmospheric forcing. Summer export was approximately fourfold higher than mean wintertime, fall and springtime (except for the episodic event of spring 2012), fueling efficient organic carbon sequestration. Lipid biomarkers indicate a high relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic, marine- and land-derived POC during both spring (April-May) and summer (June-July) reaching the deep-sea floor. Moreover, our results highlight that both seasonal and episodic pulses are crucial for POC export, while the coupling of extreme weather events and atmospheric deposition can trigger the influx of both marine labile carbon and anthropogenic compounds to the deep Levantine Sea. Finally, the comparison of time series data of sinking particulate flux with the corresponding biogeochemical parameters data previously reported for surface sediment samples from the deep-sea shed light on the benthic-pelagic coupling in the study area. Thus, this study underscores that accounting the seasonal and episodic pulses of organic carbon into the deep sea is critical in modeling the depth and intensity of natural and anthropogenic POC sequestration, and for a better understanding of the global carbon cycle.AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge support of this work by the project &#8216;PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE change &#8211; PANACEA&#8217; (MIS 5021516) which is implemented under the Action &#8216;Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure&#8217;, funded by the Operational Programme &#8216;Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation&#8217; (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).

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“…At HOT for several months post storm event (August to October 2015) there were increases in Prochlorococcus and various pico-eukaryotes at ~125 m. Overall, where nutrient concentrations within the euphotic zone of the oligotrophic ocean rise, but still remain low relative to the average uptake potential of phytoplankton, then it is the smallest photoautotrophic cells such as Synechococcus, Prochlorococcu s and picoeukaryotes that should benefit ( Raven, 1998 ). Following TC Nicole’s passage at BATS, the vertical particulate fluxes of fresh phytodetritus, zooplankton and microbial biomass increased by 30–300% at 1500 m and 30–800% at 3200 m ( Pàmies et al ., 2019 ), suggesting a significant phytoplankton bloom over a large area and a strong ecosystem response to this TC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tropical cyclones: what are their impacts on phytoplankton ecology?

Thompson

Paerl

Campbell

et al. 2022

Journal of Plankton Research

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Following the passage of a tropical cyclone (TC) the changes in temperature, salinity, nutrient concentration, water clarity, pigments and phytoplankton taxa were assessed at 42 stations from eight sites ranging from the open ocean, through the coastal zone and into estuaries. The impacts of the TC were estimated relative to the long-term average (LTA) conditions as well as before and after the TC. Over all sites the most consistent environmental impacts associated with TCs were an average 41% increase in turbidity, a 13% decline in salinity and a 2% decline in temperature relative to the LTA. In the open ocean, the nutrient concentrations, cyanobacteria and picoeukaryote abundances increased at depths between 100 and 150 m for up to 3 months following a TC. While at the riverine end of coastal estuaries, the predominate short-term response was a strong decline in salinity and phytoplankton suggesting these impacts were initially dominated by advection. The more intermediate coastal water-bodies generally experienced declines in salinity, significant reductions in water clarity, plus significant increases in nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton abundance. These intermediate waters typically developed dinoflagellate, diatom or cryptophyte blooms that elevated phytoplankton biomass for 1–3 months following a TC.

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Hurricanes Enhance Labile Carbon Export to the Deep Ocean

Cited by 20 publications

References 57 publications

Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin

Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin

Atmospheric and oceanographic forcing impact on particle flux composition and carbon sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: a three-year time-series study in the deep Ierapetra Basin

Tropical cyclones: what are their impacts on phytoplankton ecology?

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