title: Eddy-driven subduction exports particulate organic carbon from the spring bloom.
abstract: The export of particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface ocean to depth is traditionally ascribed to sinking. Here, we show that a dynamic eddying flow field subducts surface water with high concentrations of nonsinking POC. Autonomous observations made by gliders during the North Atlantic spring bloom reveal anomalous features at depths of 100 to 350 meters with elevated POC, chlorophyll, oxygen, and temperature-salinity characteristics of surface water. High-resolution modeling reveals that during the spring transition, intrusions of POC-rich surface water descend as coherent, 1- to 10-kilometer-scale filamentous features, often along the perimeter of eddies. Such a submesoscale eddy-driven flux of POC is unresolved in global carbon cycle models but can contribute as much as half of the total springtime export of POC from the highly productive subpolar oceans.
authors: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
authors: Melissa M
authors: MM
authors: Omand
authors: Applied Ocean Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors: Eric A
authors: EA
authors: D'Asaro
authors: Applied Ocean Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors: Craig M
authors: CM
authors: Lee
authors: Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME 04573, USA.
authors: Mary Jane
authors: MJ
authors: Perry
authors: Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME 04573, USA.
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Briggs
authors: Darling Marine Center, University of Maine, Walpole, ME 04573, USA.
authors: Ivona
authors: I
authors: Cetinić
authors: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA. amala@whoi.edu.
authors: Amala
authors: A
authors: Mahadevan
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002244:Carbon; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000254:growth & development*; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon