Robinson, Tiera-Brandy and Stolle, Christian and Wurl, Oliver (2019) Depth is relative: the importance of depth for transparent exopolymer particles in the near-surface environment. Ocean Science, 15 (6). pp. 1653-1666. ISSN 1812-0792
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Abstract
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) are a major source for both organic matter (OM) and carbon transfer in the ocean and into the atmosphere. Consequently, understanding the vertical distribution of TEPs and the processes which impact their movement is important in understanding the OM and carbon pools on a larger scale. Additionally, most studies looking at the vertical profile of TEPs have focused on large depth scales from 5 to 1000 m and have omitted the near-surface environment. Results from a study of TEP enrichment in the sea surface microlayer (SML) in different regions (tropical, temperate) has shown that, while there is a correlation between TEP concentration and primary production (PP) on larger or seasonal scales, such relationships break down on shorter timescales and spatial scales. Using a novel small-scale vertical sampler, the vertical distribution of TEPs within the uppermost 2 m was investigated. For two regions with a total of 20 depth profiles, a maximum variance of TEP concentration of 1.39×10<sup>6</sup> µg XG eq<sup>2</sup> L<sup>−2</sup> between depths and a minimum variance of 6×10<sup>2</sup> µg XG eq<sup>2</sup> L<sup>−2</sup> was found. This shows that the vertical distribution of TEPs was both heterogeneous and homogeneous at times. Results from the enrichment of TEPs and Chl a between different regions have shown TEP enrichment in the SML to be greater in oligotrophic waters, when both Chl a and TEP concentrations were low, suggesting the importance of abiotic sources for the enrichment of TEPs in the SML. However, considering multiple additional parameters that were sampled, it is clear that no single parameter could be used as a proxy for TEP heterogeneity. Other probable biochemical drivers of TEP transport are discussed.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Publiziert mit Hilfe des DFG-geförderten Open Access-Publikationsfonds der Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. |
| Subjects: | Science and mathematics > Chemistry Science and mathematics > Earth sciences and geology Science and mathematics > Life sciences, biology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Mathematics and Science > Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM) |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Mar 2020 12:04 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Mar 2020 12:05 |
| URI: | https://oops.uni-oldenburg.de/id/eprint/4580 |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:gbv:715-oops-46615 |
| DOI: | 10.5194/os-15-1653-2019 |
| Nutzungslizenz: |
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