Property distributions and deep chemical measurements within the western Gulf of Mexico

Morrison, John M.; Merrell, William J.; Key, Robert M.; Key, Tonalee C.

doi:10.1029/jc088ic04p02601

Cited by 51 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…To this end, we consider the whole water properties range in the GoM including both the Gulf Water and the LCE Water. Table compares the results found here (TEOS‐10) with those of previous reports using the former EOS‐80 (Elliott, ; Merrell & Morrison, ; Morrison et al, ; Morrison & Nowlin, ; Vidal et al, ).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

Hydrography of the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2018

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This study describes in detail the water masses of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) west of 88°W based on their thermohaline properties and dissolved oxygen concentration. The existent historical information is complemented with new data from 14 cruises, Argo floats, and over one year of continuous glider monitoring. The results describe the general hydrography of the central and western GoM with focus on the difference between the water properties inside and outside Loop Current Eddies (LCEs). Caribbean Surface Water, Subtropical Underwater, and 18 °C Sargasso Sea Water (18SSW) are exclusive of the LCEs, and they are found along the LCEs preferred path between 23°N and 27°N. Outside the LCEs, the prominent characteristics of these water masses erode, and the Gulf Common Water is ubiquitous in the subsurface. It is shown that the water masses in the GoM need to be described in the frame of the dominant mesoscale features that take place there and that the dissolved oxygen is a key variable to identify some water masses of Caribbean origin as the Tropical Atlantic Central Water and the 18SSW. The previous potential temperature and salinity limits of the water masses within the GoM were revised and redefined in terms of absolute salinity and conservative temperature in the frame of the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater, 2010 (TEOS‐10). While temperature values after conversion have little variation compared to the previous ones, the absolute salinity is in average 0.2 units greater than the former practical salinity.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

Hydrography of the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico

et al. 2018

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“…The nearshore mesoscale surface LCE (P5) profile has generally similar DOC concentrations and isotopic signatures, with surface LCE having only slightly higher DOC and Δ 14 C values than the LC-suggesting some possible modern marine DOC production as the LCE moved onshore (Figures 2a-2f and Table S1). These higher DOC Δ 14 C values may suggest a modern DOC similar to previous work observing higher DIC Δ 14 C values in the GOM relative to Atlantic waters attributed to biogenic particle dissolution [Mathews et al, 1973;Morrison et al, 1983]. These higher DOC Δ 14 C values may suggest a modern DOC similar to previous work observing higher DIC Δ 14 C values in the GOM relative to Atlantic waters attributed to biogenic particle dissolution [Mathews et al, 1973;Morrison et al, 1983].…”

Section: Doc Cycling In the Gulf Of Mexico Basinsupporting

confidence: 78%

Stable and radiocarbon isotopic composition of dissolved organic matter in the Gulf of Mexico

Walker¹,

Druffel²,

Kolasinski

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is of primary importance to marine ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. Stable carbon (δ13C) and radiocarbon (Δ14C) isotopic measurements are powerful tools for evaluating DOC sources and cycling. However, the isotopic signature of DOC in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) remains almost completely unknown. Here we present the first DOC Δ14C and δ13C depth profiles from the GOM. Our results suggest the Mississippi River exports large amounts of DOC with an anthropogenic “bomb” Δ14C signature. Riverine DOC is removed and recycled offshore, and some marine production of DOC is observed in the river plume. Offshore profiles show that DOC has higher Δ14C than its Caribbean feed waters, indicative of a modern deep DOC source in the GOM basin. Finally, high DOC with negative δ13C and Δ14C values were observed near the Macondo Wellhead, suggesting a transformation of Deepwater Horizon hydrocarbons into a persistent population of DOC.

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“…Thus, soft-and thin-shelled foraminifera were much better preserved in our >63-μm sediment fraction. Four such genera (Catena, (Nowlin, 1971(Nowlin, , 1972Morrison et al, 1983). Thus, our present data from the deeper seafloor of the Gulf do not show a linkage of discrete benthic foraminiferal communities with particular water masses.…”

Section: Foraminiferal Taxonomic Compositionsupporting

confidence: 46%

Benthic foraminifera living in Gulf of Mexico bathyal and abyssal sediments: Community analysis and comparison to metazoan meiofaunal biomass and density

Bernhard

Gupta

Baguley

2008

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

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Benthic foraminiferal biomass, density, and species composition were determined at ten sites in the Gulf of Mexico. During June 2001 and June 2002, sediment samples were collected with a GoMex boxcorer. A 7.5-cm diameter subcore was taken from a box core collected at each site and sliced into 1-cm or 2-cm sections to a depth of 2 or 3 cm; the >63-μm fraction was examined shipboard for benthic foraminifera. Individual foraminifers were extracted for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using a luciferin-luciferase assay, which indicated the total ATP content per specimen; that data was converted to organic carbon. Foraminiferal biomass and density varied substantially (~2-53 mg C m -2 ; ~3,600-44,500 individuals m -2 , respectively) and inconsistently with water depth. For example, although two ~1000-m deep sites were geographically separated by only ~75 km, the foraminiferal biomass at one site was relatively low (~9 mg C m -2 ) while the other site had the highest foraminiferal biomass (~53 mg C m -2 ). Although most samples from Sigsbee Plain (>3000 m) had low biomass, one Sigsbee site had >20 mg foraminiferal C m -2 .The foraminiferal community from all sites (i.e., bathyal and abyssal locales) was dominated by agglutinated, rather than calcareous or tectinous, species. Foraminiferal density never exceeded that of metazoan meiofauna at any site. Foraminiferal biomass, however, exceeded metazoan meiofaunal biomass at five of the ten sites, indicating that foraminifera constitute a major component of the Gulf's deep-water meiofaunal biomass.

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Property distributions and deep chemical measurements within the western Gulf of Mexico

Cited by 51 publications

References 7 publications

Hydrography of the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico

Hydrography of the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico

Stable and radiocarbon isotopic composition of dissolved organic matter in the Gulf of Mexico

Benthic foraminifera living in Gulf of Mexico bathyal and abyssal sediments: Community analysis and comparison to metazoan meiofaunal biomass and density

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