The fate of coccoliths at 48°N 21°W, Northeastern Atlantic.

P. Ziveri, A.T.C. Broerse, J.E. van Hinte, S. Honjo

    Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    As part of the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study Program (JGOFS) North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE), coccolithophore fluxes were recorded over one-year period, from April 1989 to April 1990. Three vertically moored sediment traps, synchronized on a 14-day interval, were deployed at 48 °N 21 °W at three water depths, at 1, 2 and 3.7 km (sea floor at 4.4 km). We present the results on the vertical variability of coccolith and coccosphere fluxes through the water column. Calcium carbonate was the largest component of the total mass flux, followed by articulate organic matter and opal. Coccolith and coccosphere seasonal fluxes followed the seasonality of the biogeochemical particle fluxes at all three depths, with maxima occurring during the spring particle 'bloom'. The decrease in correlation between coccosphere and coccolith fluxes with depth (from r = 0.98 at 1 km depth to 0.60 at 3.7 km depth) documents that disaggregation of the coccospheres occurs during settling in the deeper part of the water column between 1 and 3.7 km water depth. Annual coccosphere and coccolith fluxes were 1.5 x 10
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1853-1875
    JournalDeep-Sea Research Part 1. Oceanographic Research Papers
    Volume47
    Issue number9-11
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2000

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