Robotic observations of enhanced carbon biomass and export at 55 degrees during SOFeX.
Autonomous floats profiling in high-nitrate low-silicate waters of the Southern Ocean observed carbon biomass variability and carbon exported to depths of 100 m during the 2002 Southern Ocean Iron Experiment (SOFeX) to detect the effects of iron fertilization of surface water there. Control and "in-patch" measurements documented a greater than fourfold enhancement of carbon biomass in the iron-amended waters. Carbon export through 100 m increased two- to sixfold as the patch subducted below a front. The molar ratio of iron added to carbon exported ranged between 10(4) and 10(5). The biomass buildup and export were much higher than expected for iron-amended low-silicate waters.
Bishop
James K B
JK
Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, MS 90-1116, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. JKBishop@lbl.gov
Wood
Todd J
TJ
Davis
Russ E
RE
Sherman
Jeffrey T
JT
D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D012371:Robotics; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D002244:Carbon; D007501:Iron