Resource Availability and Entrainment Are Driven by Offsets Between Nutriclines and Winter Mixed‐Layer Depth.

Rigby, S. J., Williams, R. G., Achterberg, Eric P. and Tagliabue, A. (2020) Resource Availability and Entrainment Are Driven by Offsets Between Nutriclines and Winter Mixed‐Layer Depth. Open Access Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 34 (7). e2019GB006497. DOI 10.1029/2019GB006497.

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Abstract

While phytoplankton play a key role in ocean biogeochemical cycles, the availability and supply pathways of resources that support their growth remain poorly constrained. Here, we show that the availability of various resources varies over several orders of magnitude throughout the Atlantic Ocean, causing regional contrasts in resource deficiency. Regional variations in the relative availability of nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt, and cadmium are important and result from the contrasts between winter mixing depths and differences in vertical profiles of the different resources. The winter-time thickening of the mixed layer may replenish or deplete resources via entrainment, depending on the vertical nutrient profile. For nutrients like nitrate, phosphate, and cadmium, entrainment is a consistent source term. While for others, such as manganese and iron, entrainment can reduce ocean resource availability, particularly in subtropical regions. Any future change to the depth of winter-time mixing will cause region-specific changes in relative availability of different resources that may have important ecological consequences.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Atlantic, availability,cycling, mixed-layer, nutrient
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-CH Chemical Oceanography
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-CH Chemical Oceanography > Water column biogeochemistry
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union), Wiley
Projects: GEOTRACES
Date Deposited: 03 Aug 2020 07:50
Last Modified: 08 Feb 2023 09:26
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/50246

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