Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-731-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-731-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
31 Jul 2018
Research article |
| 31 Jul 2018
| 31 Jul 2018
Transport, properties, and life cycles of mesoscale eddies in the eastern tropical South Pacific
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker
Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Florian Schütte
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker
Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Robert A. Weller
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods
Hole, MA 02543, USA
Lothar Stramma
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker
Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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Pierre L'Hégaret, Florian Schütte, Sabrina Speich, Gilles Reverdin, Dariusz B. Baranowski, Rena Czeschel, Tim Fischer, Gregory R. Foltz, Karen J. Heywood, Gerd Krahmann, Rémi Laxenaire, Caroline Le Bihan, Philippe Le Bot, Stéphane Leizour, Callum Rollo, Michael Schlundt, Elizabeth Siddle, Corentin Subirade, Dongxiao Zhang, and Johannes Karstensen
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1801–1830, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1801-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1801-2023, 2023
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In early 2020, the EUREC4A-OA/ATOMIC experiment took place in the northwestern Tropical Atlantic Ocean, a dynamical region where different water masses interact. Four oceanographic vessels and a fleet of autonomous devices were deployed to study the processes at play and sample the upper ocean, each with its own observing capability. The article first describes the data calibration and validation and second their cross-validation, using a hierarchy of instruments and estimating the uncertainty.
Henrike Schmidt, Rena Czeschel, and Martin Visbeck
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Our investigations give detailed insight on the seasonally changing current system at intermediate depth in the Arabian Sea that is influenced by the monsoon. The changing currents influence the oxygen transport in the interior ocean and thus allow us to draw conclusions on the maintenance and seasonal variability of the upper part of the oxygen minimum zone in the Arabian Sea.
Henrike Schmidt, Rena Czeschel, and Martin Visbeck
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Manuscript not accepted for further review
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Our investigations give a detailed insight on the changing current system at intermediate depth in the Arabian Sea and allow to draw conclusions on ventilation pathways of the oxygen minimum zone and its seasonal variability. In response to the monsoon system the boundary currents change direction and feature a regionally varying ventilation pattern.
Carolin R. Löscher, Annie Bourbonnais, Julien Dekaezemacker, Chawalit N. Charoenpong, Mark A. Altabet, Hermann W. Bange, Rena Czeschel, Chris Hoffmann, and Ruth Schmitz
Biogeosciences, 13, 2889–2899, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2889-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2889-2016, 2016
Short summary
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The ocean is full of eddies and they play a key role for ocean biogeochemistry. In order to understand dinitrogen (N2) fixation, one major control of oceanic primary production, we investigated three eddies in the eastern tropical South Pacific off Peru. We conducted the first detailed survey and found increased N2 fixation in the oxygen-depleted cores of anticyclonic mode water eddies. Taken together, we could – for the first time – show that eddies play an important role in N2 fixation off Peru.
L. Stramma, R. Czeschel, T. Tanhua, P. Brandt, M. Visbeck, and B. S. Giese
Ocean Sci., 12, 153–167, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-153-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-153-2016, 2016
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The subsurface circulation in the eastern tropical North Atlantic OMZ is derived from velocity, float and tracer data and data assimilation results, and shows a cyclonic flow around the Guinea Dome reaching into the oxygen minimum zone. The stronger cyclonic flow around the Guinea Dome in 2009 seem to be connected to a strong Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) event.
A continuous deoxygenation trend of the low oxygen layer was confirmed.
Eddy influence is weak south of the Cape Verde Islands.
R. Czeschel, L. Stramma, R. A. Weller, and T. Fischer
Ocean Sci., 11, 455–470, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-455-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-455-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Mean circulation in the eastern tropical South Pacific in 50-600m depth is modified by seasonal variability and eddies on the poleward side of the oxygen minimum zone(OMZ). Floats with parking depth at 400m show westward flow in the equatorial channel, sluggish flow in the northern part of the OMZ, and passage of eddies with oxygen anomalies. Net community production rates were estimated from a float. Oxygen decrease in 50-300m depth since 1976 is related to an increase in nitrate and phosphate.
L. Stramma, H. W. Bange, R. Czeschel, A. Lorenzo, and M. Frank
Biogeosciences, 10, 7293–7306, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7293-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7293-2013, 2013
Pierre L'Hégaret, Florian Schütte, Sabrina Speich, Gilles Reverdin, Dariusz B. Baranowski, Rena Czeschel, Tim Fischer, Gregory R. Foltz, Karen J. Heywood, Gerd Krahmann, Rémi Laxenaire, Caroline Le Bihan, Philippe Le Bot, Stéphane Leizour, Callum Rollo, Michael Schlundt, Elizabeth Siddle, Corentin Subirade, Dongxiao Zhang, and Johannes Karstensen
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 1801–1830, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1801-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1801-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In early 2020, the EUREC4A-OA/ATOMIC experiment took place in the northwestern Tropical Atlantic Ocean, a dynamical region where different water masses interact. Four oceanographic vessels and a fleet of autonomous devices were deployed to study the processes at play and sample the upper ocean, each with its own observing capability. The article first describes the data calibration and validation and second their cross-validation, using a hierarchy of instruments and estimating the uncertainty.
Lothar Stramma and Sunke Schmidtko
Ocean Sci., 17, 833–847, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-833-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-17-833-2021, 2021
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Six tropical areas in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans were investigated for trends for the years since 1950 for temperature, salinity, oxygen and nutrients at 50 to 300 m and 300 to 700 m depth. Generally, temperature increases, oxygen decreases and nutrients often increase. Overlain variability on the trends seem to be related to climate modes. Different trends indicate that oxygen and nutrient trends cannot by completely explained by local warming.
Henrike Schmidt, Rena Czeschel, and Martin Visbeck
Ocean Sci., 16, 1459–1474, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1459-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1459-2020, 2020
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Our investigations give detailed insight on the seasonally changing current system at intermediate depth in the Arabian Sea that is influenced by the monsoon. The changing currents influence the oxygen transport in the interior ocean and thus allow us to draw conclusions on the maintenance and seasonal variability of the upper part of the oxygen minimum zone in the Arabian Sea.
Lothar Stramma, Sunke Schmidtko, Steven J. Bograd, Tsuneo Ono, Tetjana Ross, Daisuke Sasano, and Frank A. Whitney
Biogeosciences, 17, 813–831, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-813-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-813-2020, 2020
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The influence of climate signals in the Pacific, especially the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, as well as El Niño–La Niña and an 18.6-year nodal tidal cycle on oxygen and nutrient trends is investigated. At different locations in the Pacific Ocean different climate signals dominate. Hence, not only trends related to warming but also the influence of climate signals need to be investigated to understand oxygen and nutrient changes in the ocean.
Henrike Schmidt, Rena Czeschel, and Martin Visbeck
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-168, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-168, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review
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Short summary
Our investigations give a detailed insight on the changing current system at intermediate depth in the Arabian Sea and allow to draw conclusions on ventilation pathways of the oxygen minimum zone and its seasonal variability. In response to the monsoon system the boundary currents change direction and feature a regionally varying ventilation pattern.
Yonss Saranga José, Lothar Stramma, Sunke Schmidtko, and Andreas Oschlies
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-155, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-155, 2019
Revised manuscript accepted for BG
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In situ observations along the Peruvian and Chilean coasts have exhibited variability in the water column oxygen concentration. This variability, which is attributed to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), might have implication on the vertical extension of the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (ETSP) oxygen minimum zone. Here using a coupled physical-biogeochemical model, we provide new insights into how ENSO variability affects the vertical extension of the oxygen-poor waters of the ETSP.
Adrienne J. Sutton, Richard A. Feely, Stacy Maenner-Jones, Sylvia Musielwicz, John Osborne, Colin Dietrich, Natalie Monacci, Jessica Cross, Randy Bott, Alex Kozyr, Andreas J. Andersson, Nicholas R. Bates, Wei-Jun Cai, Meghan F. Cronin, Eric H. De Carlo, Burke Hales, Stephan D. Howden, Charity M. Lee, Derek P. Manzello, Michael J. McPhaden, Melissa Meléndez, John B. Mickett, Jan A. Newton, Scott E. Noakes, Jae Hoon Noh, Solveig R. Olafsdottir, Joseph E. Salisbury, Uwe Send, Thomas W. Trull, Douglas C. Vandemark, and Robert A. Weller
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 421–439, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-421-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-421-2019, 2019
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Long-term observations are critical records for distinguishing natural cycles from climate change. We present a data set of 40 surface ocean CO2 and pH time series that suggests the time length necessary to detect a trend in seawater CO2 due to uptake of atmospheric CO2 varies from 8 years in the least variable ocean regions to 41 years in the most variable coastal regions. This data set provides a tool to evaluate natural cycles of ocean CO2, with long-term trends emerging as records lengthen.
Johannes Karstensen, Florian Schütte, Alice Pietri, Gerd Krahmann, Björn Fiedler, Damian Grundle, Helena Hauss, Arne Körtzinger, Carolin R. Löscher, Pierre Testor, Nuno Vieira, and Martin Visbeck
Biogeosciences, 14, 2167–2181, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-2167-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-2167-2017, 2017
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High-resolution observational data from underwater gliders and ships are used to investigate drivers and pathways of nutrient upwelling in high-productive whirling ecosystems (eddies). The data suggest that the upwelling is created by the interaction of wind-induced internal waves with the local rotation of the eddy. Because of differences in nutrient and oxygen pathways, a low-oxygen core is established at shallow depth in the high-productive eddies.
Florian Schütte, Johannes Karstensen, Gerd Krahmann, Helena Hauss, Björn Fiedler, Peter Brandt, Martin Visbeck, and Arne Körtzinger
Biogeosciences, 13, 5865–5881, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5865-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5865-2016, 2016
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Mesoscale eddies with very low–oxygen concentrations at shallow depth have been recently discovered in the eastern tropical North Atlantic. Our analysis shows that low oxygen eddies occur more frequent than expected and are found even close to the equator (8° N). From budget calculations we show that an oxygen reduction of 7 µmol/kg in the depth range of 50–150 m in the eastern tropical North Atlantic (peak reduction is 16 µmol/kg at 100 m depth) can be associated with the dispersion of these eddies.
Björn Fiedler, Damian S. Grundle, Florian Schütte, Johannes Karstensen, Carolin R. Löscher, Helena Hauss, Hannes Wagner, Alexandra Loginova, Rainer Kiko, Péricles Silva, Toste Tanhua, and Arne Körtzinger
Biogeosciences, 13, 5633–5647, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5633-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5633-2016, 2016
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Oxygen-depleted mesoscale features in the open eastern tropical North Atlantic, which are formed in the Mauritanian upwelling region, were discovered recently. This study examines biogeochemical structure and magnitudes of related processes within these isolated water masses. We found very low oxygen concentrations and strongly enhanced acidity at near-surface depth. Oxygen utilization and downward carbon export were found to exceed known values for this ocean region.
Adrienne J. Sutton, Christopher L. Sabine, Richard A. Feely, Wei-Jun Cai, Meghan F. Cronin, Michael J. McPhaden, Julio M. Morell, Jan A. Newton, Jae-Hoon Noh, Sólveig R. Ólafsdóttir, Joseph E. Salisbury, Uwe Send, Douglas C. Vandemark, and Robert A. Weller
Biogeosciences, 13, 5065–5083, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5065-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5065-2016, 2016
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Ocean carbonate observations from surface buoys reveal that marine life is currently exposed to conditions outside preindustrial bounds at 12 study locations around the world. Seasonal conditions in the California Current Ecosystem and Gulf of Maine also exceed thresholds that may impact shellfish larvae. High-resolution observations place long-term change in the context of large natural variability: a necessary step to understand ocean acidification impacts under real-world conditions.
Lothar Stramma, Tim Fischer, Damian S. Grundle, Gerd Krahmann, Hermann W. Bange, and Christa A. Marandino
Ocean Sci., 12, 861–873, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-861-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-861-2016, 2016
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Results from a research cruise on R/V Sonne to the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015 during the 2015–2016 El Niño show the transition of current, hydrographic, and nutrient conditions to El Niño conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015. Although in early 2015 the El Niño was strong and in October 2015 showed a clear El Niño influence on the EUC, in the eastern tropical Pacific the measurements only showed developing El Niño water mass distributions.
Carolin R. Löscher, Annie Bourbonnais, Julien Dekaezemacker, Chawalit N. Charoenpong, Mark A. Altabet, Hermann W. Bange, Rena Czeschel, Chris Hoffmann, and Ruth Schmitz
Biogeosciences, 13, 2889–2899, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2889-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2889-2016, 2016
Short summary
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The ocean is full of eddies and they play a key role for ocean biogeochemistry. In order to understand dinitrogen (N2) fixation, one major control of oceanic primary production, we investigated three eddies in the eastern tropical South Pacific off Peru. We conducted the first detailed survey and found increased N2 fixation in the oxygen-depleted cores of anticyclonic mode water eddies. Taken together, we could – for the first time – show that eddies play an important role in N2 fixation off Peru.
Florian Schütte, Peter Brandt, and Johannes Karstensen
Ocean Sci., 12, 663–685, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-663-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-663-2016, 2016
Short summary
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We want to examine the characteristics of mesoscale eddies in the tropical northeastern Atlantic. They serve as transport agents, exporting water from the coast into the open ocean. Traditionally eddies are categorized with respect to their rotation: cyclonic and anticyclonic. But we could identify, with a combination of different satellite products, a third type called "anticyclonic mode-water eddy" transporting much larger anomalies. We propose a distinction into three classes for further studies.
Helena Hauss, Svenja Christiansen, Florian Schütte, Rainer Kiko, Miryam Edvam Lima, Elizandro Rodrigues, Johannes Karstensen, Carolin R. Löscher, Arne Körtzinger, and Björn Fiedler
Biogeosciences, 13, 1977–1989, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1977-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1977-2016, 2016
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In a low-oxygen eddy in the tropical Atlantic, total zooplankton biomass was increased. Larger plankton avoided the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ, < 20 µmol O2 kg−1). We identified four strategies by different plankton groups: (i) shallow OMZ avoidance and compression at surface, (ii) migration to shallow OMZ core during daytime, migration to surface at nighttime, (iii) residing in shallow OMZ day and night and (iv) migration through the shallow OMZ from oxygenated depths to surface and back.
Damian L. Arévalo-Martínez, Annette Kock, Carolin R. Löscher, Ruth A. Schmitz, Lothar Stramma, and Hermann W. Bange
Biogeosciences, 13, 1105–1118, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1105-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-1105-2016, 2016
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We present the first measurements of N2O across three mesoscale eddies in the eastern tropical South Pacific. Eddie's vertical structure, offshore transport, properties during its formation and near-surface primary production determined the N2O distribution. Substantial depletion of N2O within the core of anticyclonic eddies suggests that although these are transient features, N-loss processes within their centres can lead to an enhanced N2O sink which is not accounted for in marine N2O budgets.
L. Stramma, R. Czeschel, T. Tanhua, P. Brandt, M. Visbeck, and B. S. Giese
Ocean Sci., 12, 153–167, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-153-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-153-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The subsurface circulation in the eastern tropical North Atlantic OMZ is derived from velocity, float and tracer data and data assimilation results, and shows a cyclonic flow around the Guinea Dome reaching into the oxygen minimum zone. The stronger cyclonic flow around the Guinea Dome in 2009 seem to be connected to a strong Atlantic Meridional Mode (AMM) event.
A continuous deoxygenation trend of the low oxygen layer was confirmed.
Eddy influence is weak south of the Cape Verde Islands.
C. R. Löscher, M. A. Fischer, S. C. Neulinger, B. Fiedler, M. Philippi, F. Schütte, A. Singh, H. Hauss, J. Karstensen, A. Körtzinger, S. Künzel, and R. A. Schmitz
Biogeosciences, 12, 7467–7482, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-7467-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-7467-2015, 2015
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The waters of the tropical Atlantic Open Ocean usually contain comparably high concentrations of oxygen. Now, it became clear that there are watermasses related to eddies that are nearly anoxic. We surveyed one of those eddies and found a biosphere that largely differed from the usual biosphere present in this area with a specific community responsible for primary production and for degradation processes. Further, we found the very first indication for active nitrogen loss in the open Atlantic.
R. Czeschel, L. Stramma, R. A. Weller, and T. Fischer
Ocean Sci., 11, 455–470, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-455-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-11-455-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Mean circulation in the eastern tropical South Pacific in 50-600m depth is modified by seasonal variability and eddies on the poleward side of the oxygen minimum zone(OMZ). Floats with parking depth at 400m show westward flow in the equatorial channel, sluggish flow in the northern part of the OMZ, and passage of eddies with oxygen anomalies. Net community production rates were estimated from a float. Oxygen decrease in 50-300m depth since 1976 is related to an increase in nitrate and phosphate.
J. Karstensen, B. Fiedler, F. Schütte, P. Brandt, A. Körtzinger, G. Fischer, R. Zantopp, J. Hahn, M. Visbeck, and D. Wallace
Biogeosciences, 12, 2597–2605, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2597-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2597-2015, 2015
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This study is the first report of the formation of dead zones in the open ocean. A combination of multiple ocean observing system elements (mooring, floats, satellites, ships) allowed us to reconstruct the generation of the dead zones and to connect the formation to enhanced respiration within mesoscale ocean eddies. The dead zones present specific threats to the ecosystem, such as the interruption of the diurnal migration of zooplankters.
P. Brandt, H. W. Bange, D. Banyte, M. Dengler, S.-H. Didwischus, T. Fischer, R. J. Greatbatch, J. Hahn, T. Kanzow, J. Karstensen, A. Körtzinger, G. Krahmann, S. Schmidtko, L. Stramma, T. Tanhua, and M. Visbeck
Biogeosciences, 12, 489–512, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-489-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-489-2015, 2015
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Our observational study looks at the structure of the eastern tropical North Atlantic (ETNA) oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in comparison with the less-ventilated, eastern tropical South Pacific OMZ. We quantify the OMZ’s oxygen budget composed of consumption, advection, lateral and vertical mixing. Substantial oxygen variability is observed on interannual to multidecadal timescales. The deoxygenation of the ETNA OMZ during the last decades represents a substantial imbalance of the oxygen budget.
L. Stramma, H. W. Bange, R. Czeschel, A. Lorenzo, and M. Frank
Biogeosciences, 10, 7293–7306, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7293-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-7293-2013, 2013
P. J. Llanillo, J. Karstensen, J. L. Pelegrí, and L. Stramma
Biogeosciences, 10, 6339–6355, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-6339-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-6339-2013, 2013
A. C. Subramanian, A. J. Miller, B. D. Cornuelle, E. Di Lorenzo, R. A. Weller, and F. Straneo
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 3329–3344, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3329-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-3329-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Approach: In situ Observations | Depth range: Thermocline | Geographical range: Deep Seas: South Pacific | Phenomena: Temperature, Salinity and Density Fields
Influence of intraseasonal eastern boundary circulation variability on hydrography and biogeochemistry off Peru
Observed El Niño conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015
Jan Lüdke, Marcus Dengler, Stefan Sommer, David Clemens, Sören Thomsen, Gerd Krahmann, Andrew W. Dale, Eric P. Achterberg, and Martin Visbeck
Ocean Sci., 16, 1347–1366, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1347-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-16-1347-2020, 2020
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We analyse the intraseasonal variability of the alongshore circulation off Peru in early 2017, this circulation is very important for the supply of nutrients to the upwelling regime. The causes of this variability and its impact on the biogeochemistry are investigated. The poleward flow is strengthened during the observed time period, likely by a downwelling coastal trapped wave. The stronger current causes an increase in nitrate and reduces the deficit of fixed nitrogen relative to phosphorus.
Lothar Stramma, Tim Fischer, Damian S. Grundle, Gerd Krahmann, Hermann W. Bange, and Christa A. Marandino
Ocean Sci., 12, 861–873, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-861-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-861-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Results from a research cruise on R/V Sonne to the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015 during the 2015–2016 El Niño show the transition of current, hydrographic, and nutrient conditions to El Niño conditions in the eastern tropical Pacific in October 2015. Although in early 2015 the El Niño was strong and in October 2015 showed a clear El Niño influence on the EUC, in the eastern tropical Pacific the measurements only showed developing El Niño water mass distributions.
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Short summary
The mean circulation on the poleward side of the oxygen minimum zone is overlain by eddy activity playing an important role in the distribution of water masses and oxygen within the OMZ. The activity of different types of eddies was investigated during their westward propagation from the formation area off Peru/Chile into the open ocean. The focus was on the development of eddies, seasonal conditions during their formation, and the change of water mass properties transported within the eddies.
The mean circulation on the poleward side of the oxygen minimum zone is overlain by eddy...
