Looking beyond stratification:  a model-based analysis of  the  biological drivers of oxygen  deficiency in the North Sea

Große, Fabian; Greenwood, Naomi; Kreus, Markus; Lenhart, Hermann-Josef; Machoczek, Detlev; Pätsch, Johannes; Salt, Lesley; Thomas, Helmuth

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2511-2016

Articles | Volume 13, issue 8

Biogeosciences, 13, 2511–2535, 2016

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2511-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Special issue: Low oxygen environments in marine, fresh and estuarine...

Biogeosciences, 13, 2511–2535, 2016

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2511-2016

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 13, issue 8

Research article 28 Apr 2016

Research article | 28 Apr 2016

Looking beyond stratification: a model-based analysis of the biological drivers of oxygen deficiency in the North Sea

Fabian Große et al.

Data sets

Carbon Dioxide, Hydrographic, and Chemical Data Obtained During the R/V Pelagia CANOBA Cruises in the North Sea (2001-2002) Thomas, H., Borges, A., Derksen, J., and Bakker, K. https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/OTG.PELAGIA_CANOBA

Carbon Dioxide, Hydrographic, and Chemical Data Obtained During the R/V Pelagia Cruise 64PE239 in the North Sea (17 August-6 September, 2005) Thomas, H. and Borges, A. https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/OTG.PELAGIA_64PE239

SmartBuoy observational network - North Dogger Greenwood, N., Sivyer, D., Pearce, D., and Cutchey, S. https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.29

Short summary

We used the ECOHAM5 model to provide a consistent picture of the physical and biological drivers of oxygen deficiency in the North Sea. Regions susceptible to oxygen deficiency are characterised by low tidal mixing and moderate water depth (~ 40 m). Variations in upper layer productivity drive the year-to-year variability of bottom oxygen conditions. The model-based analysis reveals that benthic and pelagic remineralisation account for 90 % of bottom oxygen consumption observed at North Dogger.