Articles | Volume 13, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2511-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2511-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
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
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
University of Hamburg, Department of Informatics, Scientific Computing, Bundesstraße 45a, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Naomi Greenwood
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK
University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
Markus Kreus
University of Hamburg, Institute for Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany
University of Hamburg, CEN, Institute of Oceanography, Bundesstraße 53, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Hermann-Josef Lenhart
University of Hamburg, Department of Informatics, Scientific Computing, Bundesstraße 45a, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Detlev Machoczek
Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Johannes Pätsch
University of Hamburg, CEN, Institute of Oceanography, Bundesstraße 53, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
Lesley Salt
CNRS, UMR 7144, Equipe Chimie Marine, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
Helmuth Thomas
Dalhousie University, Department of Oceanography, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Canada
Related authors
Fabian Große, Katja Fennel, Haiyan Zhang, and Arnaud Laurent
Biogeosciences, 17, 2701–2714, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2701-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2701-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In the East China Sea, hypoxia occurs frequently from spring to fall due to high primary production and subsequent decomposition of organic matter. Nitrogen inputs from the Changjiang and the open ocean have been suggested to contribute to hypoxia formation. We used a numerical modelling approach to quantify the relative contributions of these nitrogen sources. We found that the Changjiang dominates, which suggests that nitrogen management in the watershed would improve oxygen conditions.
Mona Norbisrath, Justus E. E. van Beusekom, and Helmuth Thomas
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2595, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2595, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Observational study that investigated total alkalinity (TA) in the Dutch Wadden Sea. We collected discrete water samples to identify spatial TA distribution patterns and to locate and shed light on potential TA sources. By observing a tidal cycle in the Ameland Inlet, we identified the sediments as a local TA source and assumed aerobic metabolic processes eg CaCO3 dissolution as a TA source in the upper oxic sediments, and anaerobic metabolic processes as a TA source in the deeper anoxic ones.
Mona Norbisrath, Andreas Neumann, Kirstin Dähnke, Tina Sanders, Andreas Schöl, Justus E. E. van Beusekom, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 20, 4307–4321, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4307-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-4307-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Total alkalinity (TA) is the oceanic capacity to store CO2. Estuaries can be a TA source. Anaerobic metabolic pathways like denitrification (reduction of NO3− to N2) generate TA and are a major nitrogen (N) sink. Another important N sink is anammox that transforms NH4+ with NO2− into N2 without TA generation. By combining TA and N2 production, we identified a TA source, denitrification, occurring in the water column and suggest anammox as the dominant N2 producer in the bottom layer of the Ems.
Nele Lehmann, Hugues Lantuit, Michael Ernst Böttcher, Jens Hartmann, Antje Eulenburg, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 20, 3459–3479, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3459-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3459-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Riverine alkalinity in the silicate-dominated headwater catchment at subarctic Iskorasfjellet, northern Norway, was almost entirely derived from weathering of minor carbonate occurrences in the riparian zone. The uphill catchment appeared limited by insufficient contact time of weathering agents and weatherable material. Further, alkalinity increased with decreasing permafrost extent. Thus, with climate change, alkalinity generation is expected to increase in this permafrost-degrading landscape.
Mona Norbisrath, Johannes Pätsch, Kirstin Dähnke, Tina Sanders, Gesa Schulz, Justus E. E. van Beusekom, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 19, 5151–5165, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Total alkalinity (TA) regulates the oceanic storage capacity of atmospheric CO2. TA is also metabolically generated in estuaries and influences coastal carbon storage through its inflows. We used water samples and identified the Hamburg port area as the one with highest TA generation. Of the overall riverine TA load, 14 % is generated within the estuary. Using a biogeochemical model, we estimated potential effects on the coastal carbon storage under possible anthropogenic and climate changes.
Bryce Van Dam, Nele Lehmann, Mary A. Zeller, Andreas Neumann, Daniel Pröfrock, Marko Lipka, Helmuth Thomas, and Michael Ernst Böttcher
Biogeosciences, 19, 3775–3789, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3775-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3775-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We quantified sediment–water exchange at shallow sites in the North and Baltic seas. We found that porewater irrigation rates in the former were approximately twice as high as previously estimated, likely driven by relatively high bioirrigative activity. In contrast, we found small net fluxes of alkalinity, ranging from −35 µmol m−2 h−1 (uptake) to 53 µmol m−2 h−1 (release). We attribute this to low net denitrification, carbonate mineral (re-)precipitation, and sulfide (re-)oxidation.
Krysten Rutherford, Katja Fennel, Dariia Atamanchuk, Douglas Wallace, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 18, 6271–6286, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6271-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6271-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Using a regional model of the northwestern North Atlantic shelves in combination with a surface water time series and repeat transect observations, we investigate surface CO2 variability on the Scotian Shelf. The study highlights a strong seasonal cycle in shelf-wide pCO2 and spatial variability throughout the summer months driven by physical events. The simulated net flux of CO2 on the Scotian Shelf is out of the ocean, deviating from the global air–sea CO2 flux trend in continental shelves.
Tom Hull, Naomi Greenwood, Antony Birchill, Alexander Beaton, Matthew Palmer, and Jan Kaiser
Biogeosciences, 18, 6167–6180, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6167-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6167-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The shallow shelf seas play a large role in the global cycling of CO2 and also support large fisheries. We use an autonomous underwater vehicle in the central North Sea to measure the rates of change in oxygen and nutrients.
Using these data we determine the amount of carbon dioxide taken out of the atmosphere by the sea and measure how productive the region is.
These observations will be useful for improving our predictive models and help us predict and adapt to a changing ocean.
Chantal Mears, Helmuth Thomas, Paul B. Henderson, Matthew A. Charette, Hugh MacIntyre, Frank Dehairs, Christophe Monnin, and Alfonso Mucci
Biogeosciences, 17, 4937–4959, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4937-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4937-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Major research initiatives have been undertaken within the Arctic Ocean, highlighting this area's global importance and vulnerability to climate change. In 2015, the international GEOTRACES program addressed this importance by devoting intense research activities to the Arctic Ocean. Among various tracers, we used radium and carbonate system data to elucidate the functioning and vulnerability of the hydrographic regime of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, bridging the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Fabian Schwichtenberg, Johannes Pätsch, Michael Ernst Böttcher, Helmuth Thomas, Vera Winde, and Kay-Christian Emeis
Biogeosciences, 17, 4223–4245, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4223-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4223-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Ocean acidification has a range of potentially harmful consequences for marine organisms. It is related to total alkalinity (TA) mainly produced in oxygen-poor situations like sediments in tidal flats. TA reduces the sensitivity of a water body to acidification. The decomposition of organic material and subsequent TA release in the tidal areas of the North Sea (Wadden Sea) is responsible for reduced acidification in the southern North Sea. This is shown with the results of an ecosystem model.
Alexis Beaupré-Laperrière, Alfonso Mucci, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 17, 3923–3942, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3923-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3923-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Ocean acidification is the process by which the oceans are changing due to carbon dioxide emissions from human activities. Studying this process in the Arctic Ocean is essential as this ocean and its ecosystems are more vulnerable to the effects of acidification. Water chemistry measurements made in recent years show that waters in and around the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are considerably affected by this process and show dynamic conditions that might have an impact on local marine organisms.
Fabian Große, Katja Fennel, Haiyan Zhang, and Arnaud Laurent
Biogeosciences, 17, 2701–2714, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2701-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2701-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
In the East China Sea, hypoxia occurs frequently from spring to fall due to high primary production and subsequent decomposition of organic matter. Nitrogen inputs from the Changjiang and the open ocean have been suggested to contribute to hypoxia formation. We used a numerical modelling approach to quantify the relative contributions of these nitrogen sources. We found that the Changjiang dominates, which suggests that nitrogen management in the watershed would improve oxygen conditions.
Louise Delaigue, Helmuth Thomas, and Alfonso Mucci
Biogeosciences, 17, 547–566, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-547-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-547-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This paper reports on the first compilation and analysis of the surface water pCO2 distribution in the Saguenay Fjord, the southernmost subarctic fjord in the Northern Hemisphere, and thus fills a significant knowledge gap in current regional estimates of estuarine CO2 emissions.
Rachel M. Horwitz, Alex E. Hay, William J. Burt, Richard A. Cheel, Joseph Salisbury, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 16, 605–616, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-605-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-605-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
High-frequency CO2 measurements are used to quantify the daily and tidal cycles of dissolved carbon in the Bay of Fundy – home to the world's largest tides. The oscillating tidal flows drive a net carbon transport, and these results suggest that previously unaccounted for tidal variation could substantially modulate the coastal ocean's response to global ocean acidification. Evaluating the impact of rising atmospheric CO2 on coastal systems requires understanding this short-term variability.
Johannes Pätsch, Wilfried Kühn, and Katharina Dorothea Six
Biogeosciences, 15, 3293–3309, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-3293-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-3293-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Biogeochemical shelf sea modelling has a long tradition. Most models include early diagenesis sediment modules for remineralization of organic matter. The model presented here also simulates alkalinity, which is exported into the pelagic system. There the produced alkalinity joins in the carbonate system and is able to buffer invading atmospheric CO2. The input of nitrate via rivers stimulates alkalinity generation within the sediment, which in turn reduces the acidification of coastal areas.
Jonathan Lemay, Helmuth Thomas, Susanne E. Craig, William J. Burt, Katja Fennel, and Blair J. W. Greenan
Biogeosciences, 15, 2111–2123, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-2111-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-2111-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We report a detailed mechanistic investigation of the impact of Hurricane Arthur on the CO2 cycling on the Scotian Shelf. We can show that in contrast to common thinking, the deepening of the surface during the summer months can lead to increased CO2 uptake as carbon-poor waters from subsurface water are brought up to the surface. Only during prolonged storm events is the deepening of the mixed layer strong enough to bring the (expected) carbon-rich water to the surface.
Jacoba Mol, Helmuth Thomas, Paul G. Myers, Xianmin Hu, and Alfonso Mucci
Biogeosciences, 15, 1011–1027, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-1011-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-1011-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In the fall of 2014, the upwelling of water from the deep Canada Basin brought water onto the shallower Mackenzie Shelf in the Beaufort Sea. This increased the concentration of CO2 in water on the shelf, which alters pH and changes the transfer of CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere. These findings were a combined result of water sampling for CO2 parameters and the use of a computer model that simulates water movement in the ocean.
Rachel Hussherr, Maurice Levasseur, Martine Lizotte, Jean-Éric Tremblay, Jacoba Mol, Helmuth Thomas, Michel Gosselin, Michel Starr, Lisa A. Miller, Tereza Jarniková, Nina Schuback, and Alfonso Mucci
Biogeosciences, 14, 2407–2427, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-2407-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-2407-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study assesses the impact of ocean acidification on phytoplankton and its synthesis of the climate-active gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS), as well as its modulation, by two contrasting light regimes in the Arctic. The light regimes tested had no significant impact on either the phytoplankton or DMS concentration, whereas both variables decreased linearly with the decrease in pH. Thus, a rapid decrease in surface water pH could alter the algal biomass and inhibit DMS production in the Arctic.
Dorothee C. E. Bakker, Benjamin Pfeil, Camilla S. Landa, Nicolas Metzl, Kevin M. O'Brien, Are Olsen, Karl Smith, Cathy Cosca, Sumiko Harasawa, Stephen D. Jones, Shin-ichiro Nakaoka, Yukihiro Nojiri, Ute Schuster, Tobias Steinhoff, Colm Sweeney, Taro Takahashi, Bronte Tilbrook, Chisato Wada, Rik Wanninkhof, Simone R. Alin, Carlos F. Balestrini, Leticia Barbero, Nicholas R. Bates, Alejandro A. Bianchi, Frédéric Bonou, Jacqueline Boutin, Yann Bozec, Eugene F. Burger, Wei-Jun Cai, Robert D. Castle, Liqi Chen, Melissa Chierici, Kim Currie, Wiley Evans, Charles Featherstone, Richard A. Feely, Agneta Fransson, Catherine Goyet, Naomi Greenwood, Luke Gregor, Steven Hankin, Nick J. Hardman-Mountford, Jérôme Harlay, Judith Hauck, Mario Hoppema, Matthew P. Humphreys, Christopher W. Hunt, Betty Huss, J. Severino P. Ibánhez, Truls Johannessen, Ralph Keeling, Vassilis Kitidis, Arne Körtzinger, Alex Kozyr, Evangelia Krasakopoulou, Akira Kuwata, Peter Landschützer, Siv K. Lauvset, Nathalie Lefèvre, Claire Lo Monaco, Ansley Manke, Jeremy T. Mathis, Liliane Merlivat, Frank J. Millero, Pedro M. S. Monteiro, David R. Munro, Akihiko Murata, Timothy Newberger, Abdirahman M. Omar, Tsuneo Ono, Kristina Paterson, David Pearce, Denis Pierrot, Lisa L. Robbins, Shu Saito, Joe Salisbury, Reiner Schlitzer, Bernd Schneider, Roland Schweitzer, Rainer Sieger, Ingunn Skjelvan, Kevin F. Sullivan, Stewart C. Sutherland, Adrienne J. Sutton, Kazuaki Tadokoro, Maciej Telszewski, Matthias Tuma, Steven M. A. C. van Heuven, Doug Vandemark, Brian Ward, Andrew J. Watson, and Suqing Xu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 8, 383–413, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-383-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-8-383-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Version 3 of the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (www.socat.info) has 14.5 million CO2 (carbon dioxide) values for the years 1957 to 2014 covering the global oceans and coastal seas. Version 3 is an update to version 2 with a longer record and 44 % more CO2 values. The CO2 measurements have been made on ships, fixed moorings and drifting buoys. SOCAT enables quantification of the ocean carbon sink and ocean acidification, as well as model evaluation, thus informing climate negotiations.
William J. Burt, Helmuth Thomas, Lisa A. Miller, Mats A. Granskog, Tim N. Papakyriakou, and Leah Pengelly
Biogeosciences, 13, 4659–4671, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4659-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4659-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This study assesses the state of the carbon cycle in Hudson Bay, an ecologically important region of the Canadian Arctic. Results show that river input, sea-ice melt, biological activity, and general circulation patterns all have significant, and regionally dependent, impacts on the carbon cycle. The study also highlights the importance of detailed sampling procedures in highly stratified waters, and reveals that the deep Hudson Bay is primarily filled with waters of Pacific origin.
Johan van der Molen, Piet Ruardij, and Naomi Greenwood
Biogeosciences, 13, 2593–2609, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2593-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-2593-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The potential large-scale (> 100 km) effects of marine renewable tidal energy generation in the Pentland Firth were studied using a 3-D hydrodynamics–biogeochemistry model. A realistic 800 MW scenario suggested minor effects on tides and biogeochemistry. A massive-expansion 8 GW scenario suggested effects over hundreds of kilometres away with changes of up to 10 % in tidal and ecosystem variables, the latter through clearer waters and increased primary production with associated increases in fauna.
Tom Hull, Naomi Greenwood, Jan Kaiser, and Martin Johnson
Biogeosciences, 13, 943–959, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-943-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-943-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We explore the estimation of NCP using an oxygen time series from a surface mooring located in the River Thames plume. Our study site is identified as a region of net heterotrophy with strong seasonal variability. Short-term daily variability in oxygen and horizontal advection is demonstrated to make accurate estimates challenging. The effects of bubble-induced supersaturation is shown to have a large influence on cumulative annual estimates.
N. Jiao, C. Robinson, F. Azam, H. Thomas, F. Baltar, H. Dang, N. J. Hardman-Mountford, M. Johnson, D. L. Kirchman, B. P. Koch, L. Legendre, C. Li, J. Liu, T. Luo, Y.-W. Luo, A. Mitra, A. Romanou, K. Tang, X. Wang, C. Zhang, and R. Zhang
Biogeosciences, 11, 5285–5306, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-5285-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-5285-2014, 2014
S. E. Craig, H. Thomas, C. T. Jones, W. K. W. Li, B. J. W. Greenan, E. H. Shadwick, and W. J. Burt
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-10-11255-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-10-11255-2013, 2013
Revised manuscript not accepted
A. Lindenthal, B. Langmann, J. Pätsch, I. Lorkowski, and M. Hort
Biogeosciences, 10, 3715–3729, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3715-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3715-2013, 2013
W. J. Burt, H. Thomas, K. Fennel, and E. Horne
Biogeosciences, 10, 53–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-53-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-53-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Biogeochemistry: Coastal Ocean
Multiple nitrogen sources for primary production inferred from δ13C and δ15N in the southern Sea of Japan
Influence of manganese cycling on alkalinity in the redox stratified water column of Chesapeake Bay
Estuarine flocculation dynamics of organic carbon and metals from boreal acid sulfate soils
Influence of a small submarine canyon on biogenic matter export flux in the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary, eastern Canada
Drivers of particle sinking velocities in the Peruvian upwelling system
Impacts and uncertainties of climate-induced changes in watershed inputs on estuarine hypoxia
Considerations for hypothetical carbon dioxide removal via alkalinity addition in the Amazon River watershed
Revisiting the applicability and constraints of molybdenum and uranium-based paleo redox proxies: comparing two contrasting sill fjords
High metabolism and periodic hypoxia associated with drifting macrophyte detritus in the shallow subtidal Baltic Sea
Single-celled bioturbators: benthic foraminifera mediate oxygen penetration and prokaryotic diversity in intertidal sediment
Production and accumulation of reef framework by calcifying corals and macroalgae on a remote Indian Ocean cay
Zooplankton community succession and trophic links during a mesocosm experiment in the coastal upwelling off Callao Bay (Peru)
Temporal and spatial evolution of bottom-water hypoxia in the St Lawrence estuarine system
Significant nutrient consumption in the dark subsurface layer during a diatom bloom: a case study on Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan
Contrasts in dissolved, particulate, and sedimentary organic carbon from the Kolyma River to the East Siberian Shelf
Sediment quality assessment in an industrialized Greek coastal marine area (western Saronikos Gulf)
Limits and CO2 equilibration of near-coast alkalinity enhancement
Role of phosphorus in the seasonal deoxygenation of the East China Sea shelf
Interannual variability of the initiation of the phytoplankton growing period in two French coastal ecosystems
Observed and projected impacts of coastal warming, acidification, and deoxygenation on Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) farming: A case study in the Hinase Area, Okayama Prefecture and Shizugawa Bay, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
Spatio-temporal distribution, photoreactivity and environmental control of dissolved organic matter in the sea-surface microlayer of the eastern marginal seas of China
Metabolic alkalinity release from large port facilities (Hamburg, Germany) and impact on coastal carbon storage
A Numerical reassessment of the Gulf of Mexico carbon system in connection with the Mississippi River and global ocean
Observed and projected global warming pressure on coastal hypoxia
Benthic alkalinity fluxes from coastal sediments of the Baltic and North seas: comparing approaches and identifying knowledge gaps
Investigating the effect of nickel concentration on phytoplankton growth to assess potential side-effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement
Unprecedented summer hypoxia in southern Cape Cod Bay: an ecological response to regional climate change?
Interannual variabilities, long-term trends, and regulating factors of low-oxygen conditions in the coastal waters off Hong Kong
Causes of the extensive hypoxia in the Gulf of Riga in 2018
Trawling effects on biogeochemical processes are mediated by fauna in high-energy biogenic-reef-inhabited coastal sediments
Drought recorded by Ba∕Ca in coastal benthic foraminifera
A nitrate budget of the Bohai Sea based on an isotope mass balance model
Suspended particulate matter drives the spatial segregation of nitrogen turnover along the hyper-turbid Ems estuary
Marine CO2 system variability along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage determined from an Alaskan ferry
Reviews and syntheses: Spatial and temporal patterns in seagrass metabolic fluxes
Mixed layer depth dominates over upwelling in regulating the seasonality of ecosystem functioning in the Peruvian upwelling system
Temporal dynamics of surface ocean carbonate chemistry in response to natural and simulated upwelling events during the 2017 coastal El Niño near Callao, Peru
Pelagic primary production in the coastal Mediterranean Sea: variability, trends, and contribution to basin-scale budgets
Contrasting patterns of carbon cycling and dissolved organic matter processing in two phytoplankton–bacteria communities
Biophysical controls on seasonal changes in the structure, growth, and grazing of the size-fractionated phytoplankton community in the northern South China Sea
Seasonal dispersal of fjord meltwaters as an important source of iron and manganese to coastal Antarctic phytoplankton
Modeling cyanobacteria life cycle dynamics and historical nitrogen fixation in the Baltic Proper
Simultaneous assessment of oxygen- and nitrate-based net community production in a temperate shelf sea from a single ocean glider
Reviews and syntheses: Physical and biogeochemical processes associated with upwelling in the Indian Ocean
Particulate organic carbon dynamics in the Gulf of Lion shelf (NW Mediterranean) using a coupled hydrodynamic–biogeochemical model
Technical note: Novel triple O2 sensor aquatic eddy covariance instrument with improved time shift correction reveals central role of microphytobenthos for carbon cycling in coral reef sands
Long-term spatiotemporal variations in and expansion of low-oxygen conditions in the Pearl River estuary: a study synthesizing observations during 1976–2017
Fe-binding organic ligands in coastal and frontal regions of the western Antarctic Peninsula
Temporal variability and driving factors of the carbonate system in the Aransas Ship Channel, TX, USA: a time series study
Nitrogen loss processes in response to upwelling in a Peruvian coastal setting dominated by denitrification – a mesocosm approach
Taketoshi Kodama, Atsushi Nishimoto, Ken-ichi Nakamura, Misato Nakae, Naoki Iguchi, Yosuke Igeta, and Yoichi Kogure
Biogeosciences, 20, 3667–3682, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3667-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3667-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Carbon and nitrogen are essential elements for organisms; their stable isotope ratios (13C : 12C, 15N : 14N) are useful tools for understanding turnover and movement in the ocean. In the Sea of Japan, the environment is rapidly being altered by human activities. The 13C : 12C of small organic particles is increased by active carbon fixation, and phytoplankton growth increases the values. The 15N : 14N variations suggest that nitrates from many sources contribute to organic production.
Aubin Thibault de Chanvalon, George W. Luther, Emily R. Estes, Jennifer Necker, Bradley M. Tebo, Jianzhong Su, and Wei-Jun Cai
Biogeosciences, 20, 3053–3071, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3053-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3053-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The intensity of the oceanic trap of CO2 released by anthropogenic activities depends on the alkalinity brought by continental weathering. Between ocean and continent, coastal water and estuaries can limit or favour the alkalinity transfer. This study investigate new interactions between dissolved metals and alkalinity in the oxygen-depleted zone of estuaries.
Joonas J. Virtasalo, Peter Österholm, and Eero Asmala
Biogeosciences, 20, 2883–2901, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2883-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2883-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We mixed acidic metal-rich river water from acid sulfate soils and seawater in the laboratory to study the flocculation of dissolved metals and organic matter in estuaries. Al and Fe flocculated already at a salinity of 0–2 to large organic flocs (>80 µm size). Precipitation of Al and Fe hydroxide flocculi (median size 11 µm) began when pH exceeded ca. 5.5. Mn transferred weakly to Mn hydroxides and Co to the flocs. Up to 50 % of Cu was associated with the flocs, irrespective of seawater mixing.
Hannah Sharpe, Michel Gosselin, Catherine Lalande, Alexandre Normandeau, Jean-Carlos Montero-Serrano, Khouloud Baccara, Daniel Bourgault, Owen Sherwood, and Audrey Limoges
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1538, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1538, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the impact of submarine canyon processes within the Pointe-des-Monts system on biogenic matter export and phytoplankton assemblages. Using data from three oceanographic moorings, we show that the canyon experienced two low-amplitude sediment remobilization events in 2020–2021, that led to enhanced particle fluxes in the deep-water column layer >2.6 km offshore. Sinking phytoplankton fluxes were lower near the canyon compared to background values from the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary.
Moritz Baumann, Allanah Joy Paul, Jan Taucher, Lennart Thomas Bach, Silvan Goldenberg, Paul Stange, Fabrizio Minutolo, and Ulf Riebesell
Biogeosciences, 20, 2595–2612, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2595-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2595-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The sinking velocity of marine particles affects how much atmospheric CO2 is stored inside our oceans. We measured particle sinking velocities in the Peruvian upwelling system and assessed their physical and biochemical drivers. We found that sinking velocity was mainly influenced by particle size and porosity, while ballasting minerals played only a minor role. Our findings help us to better understand the particle sinking dynamics in this highly productive marine system.
Kyle E. Hinson, Marjorie A. M. Friedrichs, Raymond G. Najjar, Maria Herrmann, Zihao Bian, Gopal Bhatt, Pierre St-Laurent, Hanqin Tian, and Gary Shenk
Biogeosciences, 20, 1937–1961, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1937-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1937-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Climate impacts are essential for environmental managers to consider when implementing nutrient reduction plans designed to reduce hypoxia. This work highlights relative sources of uncertainty in modeling regional climate impacts on the Chesapeake Bay watershed and consequent declines in bay oxygen levels. The results demonstrate that planned water quality improvement goals are capable of reducing hypoxia levels by half, offsetting climate-driven impacts on terrestrial runoff.
Linquan Mu, Jaime B. Palter, and Hongjie Wang
Biogeosciences, 20, 1963–1977, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1963-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1963-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Enhancing ocean alkalinity accelerates carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. We hypothetically added alkalinity to the Amazon River and examined the increment of the carbon uptake by the Amazon plume. We also investigated the minimum alkalinity addition in which this perturbation at the river mouth could be detected above the natural variability.
K. Mareike Paul, Martijn Hermans, Sami A. Jokinen, Inda Brinkmann, Helena L. Filipsson, and Tom Jilbert
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-83, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-83, 2023
Revised manuscript accepted for BG
Short summary
Short summary
The coastal seafloor naturally contains trace metals, which are sensitive to changes in oxygen concentrations in seawater: trace metal contents increase with decreasing oxygen concentrations. Studies have used those trace metals as indicators for declining oxygen concentrations in coastal waters. Here we show that in fjords, this relationship works well on longer (decadal) time scales but poorly on shorter (seasonal) time scales. We attribute this to other processes influencing the trace metals.
Karl M. Attard, Anna Lyssenko, and Iván F. Rodil
Biogeosciences, 20, 1713–1724, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1713-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1713-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Aquatic plants produce a large amount of organic matter through photosynthesis that, following erosion, is deposited on the seafloor. In this study, we show that plant detritus can trigger low-oxygen conditions (hypoxia) in shallow coastal waters, making conditions challenging for most marine animals. We propose that the occurrence of hypoxia may be underestimated because measurements typically do not consider the region closest to the seafloor, where detritus accumulates.
Dewi Langlet, Florian Mermillod-Blondin, Noémie Deldicq, Arthur Bauville, Gwendoline Duong, Lara Konecny, Mylène Hugoni, Lionel Denis, and Vincent M. P. Bouchet
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-705, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-705, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Benthic foraminifera are single cell marine organisms which can move in the sediment column. They were previously reported to horizontally and vertically transport sediment particles, yet the impact of their motion on the dissolved fluxes remains unknown. Using microprofiling we here show that foraminiferal burrow formation increase the oxygen penetration depth in the sediment. Leading to a change in the structure of the prokaryotic community.
M. James McLaughlin, Cindy Bessey, Gary A. Kendrick, John Keesing, and Ylva S. Olsen
Biogeosciences, 20, 1011–1026, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1011-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Coral reefs face increasing pressures from environmental change at present. The coral reef framework is produced by corals and calcifying algae. The Kimberley region of Western Australia has escaped land-based anthropogenic impacts. Specimens of the dominant coral and algae were collected from Browse Island's reef platform and incubated in mesocosms to measure calcification and production patterns of oxygen. This study provides important data on reef building and climate-driven effects.
Patricia Ayón Dejo, Elda Luz Pinedo Arteaga, Anna Schukat, Jan Taucher, Rainer Kiko, Helena Hauss, Sabrina Dorschner, Wilhelm Hagen, Mariona Segura-Noguera, and Silke Lischka
Biogeosciences, 20, 945–969, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-945-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-945-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Ocean upwelling regions are highly productive. With ocean warming, severe changes in upwelling frequency and/or intensity and expansion of accompanying oxygen minimum zones are projected. In a field experiment off Peru, we investigated how different upwelling intensities affect the pelagic food web and found failed reproduction of dominant zooplankton. The changes projected could severely impact the reproductive success of zooplankton communities and the pelagic food web in upwelling regions.
Mathilde Jutras, Alfonso Mucci, Gwenaëlle Chaillou, William A. Nesbitt, and Douglas W. R. Wallace
Biogeosciences, 20, 839–849, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-839-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-839-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The deep waters of the lower St Lawrence Estuary and gulf have, in the last decades, experienced a strong decline in their oxygen concentration. Below 65 µmol L-1, the waters are said to be hypoxic, with dire consequences for marine life. We show that the extent of the hypoxic zone shows a seven-fold increase in the last 20 years, reaching 9400 km2 in 2021. After a stable period at ~ 65 µmol L⁻¹ from 1984 to 2019, the oxygen level also suddenly decreased to ~ 35 µmol L-1 in 2020.
Sachi Umezawa, Manami Tozawa, Yuichi Nosaka, Daiki Nomura, Hiroji Onishi, Hiroto Abe, Tetsuya Takatsu, and Atsushi Ooki
Biogeosciences, 20, 421–438, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-421-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-421-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We conducted repetitive observations in Funka Bay, Japan, during the spring bloom 2019. We found nutrient concentration decreases in the dark subsurface layer during the bloom. Incubation experiments confirmed that diatoms could consume nutrients at a substantial rate, even in darkness. We concluded that the nutrient reduction was mainly caused by nutrient consumption by diatoms in the dark.
Dirk Jong, Lisa Bröder, Tommaso Tesi, Kirsi H. Keskitalo, Nikita Zimov, Anna Davydova, Philip Pika, Negar Haghipour, Timothy I. Eglinton, and Jorien E. Vonk
Biogeosciences, 20, 271–294, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-271-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-271-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
With this study, we want to highlight the importance of studying both land and ocean together, and water and sediment together, as these systems function as a continuum, and determine how organic carbon derived from permafrost is broken down and its effect on global warming. Although on the one hand it appears that organic carbon is removed from sediments along the pathway of transport from river to ocean, it also appears to remain relatively ‘fresh’, despite this removal and its very old age.
Georgia Filippi, Manos Dassenakis, Vasiliki Paraskevopoulou, and Konstantinos Lazogiannis
Biogeosciences, 20, 163–189, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-163-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-163-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The pollution of the western Saronikos Gulf from heavy metals has been examined through the study of marine sediment cores. It is a deep gulf (maximum depth 440 m) near Athens affected by industrial and volcanic activity. Eight cores were received from various stations and depths and analysed for their heavy metal content and geochemical characteristics. The results were evaluated by using statistical methods, environmental indicators and comparisons with old data.
Jing He and Michael D. Tyka
Biogeosciences, 20, 27–43, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-27-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-27-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Recently, ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) has gained interest as a scalable way to address the urgent need for negative CO2 emissions. In this paper we examine the capacity of different coastlines to tolerate alkalinity enhancement and the time scale of CO2 uptake following the addition of a given quantity of alkalinity. The results suggest that OAE has significant potential and identify specific favorable and unfavorable coastlines for its deployment.
Arnaud Laurent, Haiyan Zhang, and Katja Fennel
Biogeosciences, 19, 5893–5910, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5893-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5893-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Changjiang is the main terrestrial source of nutrients to the East China Sea (ECS). Nutrient delivery to the ECS has been increasing since the 1960s, resulting in low oxygen (hypoxia) during phytoplankton decomposition in summer. River phosphorus (P) has increased less than nitrogen, and therefore, despite the large nutrient delivery, phytoplankton growth can be limited by the lack of P. Here, we investigate this link between P limitation, phytoplankton production/decomposition, and hypoxia.
Coline Poppeschi, Guillaume Charria, Anne Daniel, Romaric Verney, Peggy Rimmelin-Maury, Michaël Retho, Eric Goberville, Emilie Grossteffan, and Martin Plus
Biogeosciences, 19, 5667–5687, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5667-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5667-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper aims to understand interannual changes in the initiation of the phytoplankton growing period (IPGP) in the current context of global climate changes over the last 20 years. An important variability in the timing of the IPGP is observed with a trend towards a later IPGP during this last decade. The role and the impact of extreme events (cold spells, floods, and wind burst) on the IPGP is also detailed.
Masahiko Fujii, Ryuji Hamanoue, Lawrence Patrick Cases Bernardo, Tsuneo Ono, Akihiro Dazai, Shigeyuki Oomoto, Masahide Wakita, and Takehiro Tanaka
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2022-223, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2022-223, 2022
Revised manuscript accepted for BG
Short summary
Short summary
This is the first study of the current and future impacts of climate change on Pacific oyster farming in Japan. Future coastal warming and acidification may affect oyster larvae, as a result of longer exposure to lower pH waters. A prolonged spawning period may harm oyster processing by shortening the shipping period and reducing oyster quality. To minimize impacts on Pacific oyster farming, in addition to mitigation measures, local adaptation measures may be required.
Lin Yang, Jing Zhang, Anja Engel, and Gui-Peng Yang
Biogeosciences, 19, 5251–5268, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5251-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5251-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Enrichment factors of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the eastern marginal seas of China exhibited a significant spatio-temporal variation. Photochemical and enrichment processes co-regulated DOM enrichment in the sea-surface microlayer (SML). Autochthonous DOM was more frequently enriched in the SML than terrestrial DOM. DOM in the sub-surface water exhibited higher aromaticity than that in the SML.
Mona Norbisrath, Johannes Pätsch, Kirstin Dähnke, Tina Sanders, Gesa Schulz, Justus E. E. van Beusekom, and Helmuth Thomas
Biogeosciences, 19, 5151–5165, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5151-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Total alkalinity (TA) regulates the oceanic storage capacity of atmospheric CO2. TA is also metabolically generated in estuaries and influences coastal carbon storage through its inflows. We used water samples and identified the Hamburg port area as the one with highest TA generation. Of the overall riverine TA load, 14 % is generated within the estuary. Using a biogeochemical model, we estimated potential effects on the coastal carbon storage under possible anthropogenic and climate changes.
Le Zhang and Z. George Xue
Biogeosciences, 19, 4589–4618, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4589-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4589-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We adopt a high-resolution carbon model for the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and calculate the decadal trends of important carbon system variables in the GoM from 2001 to 2019. The GoM surface CO2 values experienced a steady increase over the past 2 decades, and the ocean surface pH is declining. Although carbonate saturation rates remain supersaturated with aragonite, they show a slightly decreasing trend. The northern GoM is a stronger carbon sink than we thought.
Michael M. Whitney
Biogeosciences, 19, 4479–4497, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4479-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-4479-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal hypoxia is a major environmental problem of increasing severity. The 21st-century projections analyzed indicate global coastal waters will warm and experience rapid declines in oxygen. The forecasted median coastal trends for increasing sea surface temperature and decreasing oxygen capacity are 48 % and 18 % faster than the rates observed over the last 4 decades. Existing hypoxic areas are expected to worsen, and new hypoxic areas likely will emerge under these warming-related pressures.
Bryce Van Dam, Nele Lehmann, Mary A. Zeller, Andreas Neumann, Daniel Pröfrock, Marko Lipka, Helmuth Thomas, and Michael Ernst Böttcher
Biogeosciences, 19, 3775–3789, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3775-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3775-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We quantified sediment–water exchange at shallow sites in the North and Baltic seas. We found that porewater irrigation rates in the former were approximately twice as high as previously estimated, likely driven by relatively high bioirrigative activity. In contrast, we found small net fluxes of alkalinity, ranging from −35 µmol m−2 h−1 (uptake) to 53 µmol m−2 h−1 (release). We attribute this to low net denitrification, carbonate mineral (re-)precipitation, and sulfide (re-)oxidation.
Jiaying Abby Guo, Robert Strzepek, Anusuya Willis, Aaron Ferderer, and Lennart Thomas Bach
Biogeosciences, 19, 3683–3697, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3683-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3683-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a CO2 removal method with significant potential, but it can lead to a perturbation of the ocean with trace metals such as nickel. This study tested the effect of increasing nickel concentrations on phytoplankton growth and photosynthesis. We found that the response to nickel varied across the 11 phytoplankton species tested here, but the majority were rather insensitive. We note, however, that responses may be different under other experimental conditions.
Malcolm E. Scully, W. Rockwell Geyer, David Borkman, Tracy L. Pugh, Amy Costa, and Owen C. Nichols
Biogeosciences, 19, 3523–3536, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3523-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3523-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
For two consecutive summers, the bottom waters in southern Cape Cod Bay became severely depleted of dissolved oxygen. Low oxygen levels in bottom waters have never been reported in this area before, and this unprecedented occurrence is likely the result of a new algae species that recently began blooming during the late-summer months. We present data suggesting that blooms of this new species are the result of regional climate change including warmer waters and changes in summer winds.
Zheng Chen, Bin Wang, Chuang Xu, Zhongren Zhang, Shiyu Li, and Jiatang Hu
Biogeosciences, 19, 3469–3490, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3469-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-3469-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Deterioration of low-oxygen conditions in the coastal waters off Hong Kong was revealed by monitoring data over two decades. The declining wind forcing and the increasing nutrient input contributed significantly to the areal expansion and intense deterioration of low-oxygen conditions. Also, the exacerbated eutrophication drove a shift in the dominant source of organic matter from terrestrial inputs to in situ primary production, which has probably led to an earlier onset of hypoxia in summer.
Stella-Theresa Stoicescu, Jaan Laanemets, Taavi Liblik, Māris Skudra, Oliver Samlas, Inga Lips, and Urmas Lips
Biogeosciences, 19, 2903–2920, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2903-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2903-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal basins with high input of nutrients often suffer from oxygen deficiency. In summer 2018, the extent of oxygen depletion was exceptional in the Gulf of Riga. We analyzed observational data and found that extensive oxygen deficiency appeared since the water layer close to the seabed, where oxygen is consumed, was separated from the surface layer. The problem worsens if similar conditions restricting vertical transport of oxygen occur more frequently in the future.
Justin C. Tiano, Jochen Depestele, Gert Van Hoey, João Fernandes, Pieter van Rijswijk, and Karline Soetaert
Biogeosciences, 19, 2583–2598, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2583-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2583-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study gives an assessment of bottom trawling on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics in a location known for its strong currents and variable habitats. Although trawl gears only removed the top 1 cm of the seabed surface, impacts on reef-building tubeworms significantly decreased carbon and nutrient cycling. Lighter trawls slightly reduced the impact on fauna and nutrients. Tubeworms were strongly linked to biogeochemical and faunal aspects before but not after trawling.
Inda Brinkmann, Christine Barras, Tom Jilbert, Tomas Næraa, K. Mareike Paul, Magali Schweizer, and Helena L. Filipsson
Biogeosciences, 19, 2523–2535, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2523-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2523-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The concentration of the trace metal barium (Ba) in coastal seawater is a function of continental input, such as riverine discharge. Our geochemical records of the severely hot and dry year 2018, and following wet year 2019, reveal that prolonged drought imprints with exceptionally low Ba concentrations in benthic foraminiferal calcium carbonates of coastal sediments. This highlights the potential of benthic Ba / Ca to trace past climate extremes and variability in coastal marine records.
Shichao Tian, Birgit Gaye, Jianhui Tang, Yongming Luo, Wenguo Li, Niko Lahajnar, Kirstin Dähnke, Tina Sanders, Tianqi Xiong, Weidong Zhai, and Kay-Christian Emeis
Biogeosciences, 19, 2397–2415, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2397-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2397-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We constrain the nitrogen budget and in particular the internal sources and sinks of nitrate in the Bohai Sea by using a mass-based and dual stable isotope approach based on δ15N and δ18O of nitrate. Based on available mass fluxes and isotope data an updated nitrogen budget is proposed. Compared to previous estimates, it is more complete and includes the impact of the interior cycle (nitrification) on the nitrate pool. The main external nitrogen sources are rivers contributing 19.2 %–25.6 %.
Gesa Schulz, Tina Sanders, Justus E. E. van Beusekom, Yoana G. Voynova, Andreas Schöl, and Kirstin Dähnke
Biogeosciences, 19, 2007–2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2007-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-2007-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Estuaries can significantly alter nutrient loads before reaching coastal waters. Our study of the heavily managed Ems estuary (Northern Germany) reveals three zones of nitrogen turnover along the estuary with water-column denitrification in the most upstream hyper-turbid part, nitrate production in the middle reaches and mixing/nitrate uptake in the North Sea. Suspended particulate matter was the overarching control on nitrogen cycling in the hyper-turbid estuary.
Wiley Evans, Geoffrey T. Lebon, Christen D. Harrington, Yuichiro Takeshita, and Allison Bidlack
Biogeosciences, 19, 1277–1301, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1277-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1277-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Information on the marine carbon dioxide system along the northeast Pacific Inside Passage has been limited. To address this gap, we instrumented an Alaskan ferry in order to characterize the marine carbon dioxide system in this region. Data over a 2-year period were used to assess drivers of the observed variability, identify the timing of severe conditions, and assess the extent of contemporary ocean acidification as well as future levels consistent with a 1.5 °C warmer climate.
Melissa Ward, Tye L. Kindinger, Heidi K. Hirsh, Tessa M. Hill, Brittany M. Jellison, Sarah Lummis, Emily B. Rivest, George G. Waldbusser, Brian Gaylord, and Kristy J. Kroeker
Biogeosciences, 19, 689–699, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-689-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-689-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Here, we synthesize the results from 62 studies reporting in situ rates of seagrass metabolism to highlight spatial and temporal variability in oxygen fluxes and inform efforts to use seagrass to mitigate ocean acidification. Our analyses suggest seagrass meadows are generally autotrophic and variable in space and time, and the effects on seawater oxygen are relatively small in magnitude.
Tianfei Xue, Ivy Frenger, A. E. Friederike Prowe, Yonss Saranga José, and Andreas Oschlies
Biogeosciences, 19, 455–475, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-455-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-455-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The Peruvian system supports 10 % of the world's fishing yield. In the Peruvian system, wind and earth’s rotation bring cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface and allow phytoplankton to grow. But observations show that it grows worse at high upwelling. Using a model, we find that high upwelling happens when air mixes the water the most. Then phytoplankton is diluted and grows slowly due to low light and cool upwelled water. This study helps to estimate how it might change in a warming climate.
Shao-Min Chen, Ulf Riebesell, Kai G. Schulz, Elisabeth von der Esch, Eric P. Achterberg, and Lennart T. Bach
Biogeosciences, 19, 295–312, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-295-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-295-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Oxygen minimum zones in the ocean are characterized by enhanced carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and are being further acidified by increasing anthropogenic atmospheric CO2. Here we report CO2 system measurements in a mesocosm study offshore Peru during a rare coastal El Niño event to investigate how CO2 dynamics may respond to ongoing ocean deoxygenation. Our observations show that nitrogen limitation, productivity, and plankton community shift play an important role in driving the CO2 dynamics.
Paula Maria Salgado-Hernanz, Aurore Regaudie-de-Gioux, David Antoine, and Gotzon Basterretxea
Biogeosciences, 19, 47–69, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-47-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-47-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
For the first time, this study presents the characteristics of primary production in coastal regions of the Mediterranean Sea based on satellite-borne observations for the period 2002–2016. The study concludes that there are significant spatial and temporal variations among different regions. Quantifying primary production is of special importance in the marine food web and in the sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the deep waters.
Samu Elovaara, Eeva Eronen-Rasimus, Eero Asmala, Tobias Tamelander, and Hermanni Kaartokallio
Biogeosciences, 18, 6589–6616, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6589-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6589-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a significant carbon pool in the marine environment. The composition of the DOM pool, as well as its interaction with microbes, is complex, yet understanding it is important for understanding global carbon cycling. This study shows that two phytoplankton species have different effects on the composition of the DOM pool and, through the DOM they produce, on the ensuing microbial community. These communities in turn have different effects on DOM composition.
Yuan Dong, Qian P. Li, Zhengchao Wu, Yiping Shuai, Zijia Liu, Zaiming Ge, Weiwen Zhou, and Yinchao Chen
Biogeosciences, 18, 6423–6434, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6423-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6423-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Temporal change of plankton growth and grazing are less known in the coastal ocean, not to mention the relevant controlling mechanisms. Here, we performed monthly size-specific dilution experiments outside a eutrophic estuary over a 1-year cycle. Phytoplankton growth was correlated to nutrients and grazing mortality to total chlorophyll a. A selective grazing on small cells may be important for maintaining high abundance of large-chain-forming diatoms in this eutrophic system.
Kiefer O. Forsch, Lisa Hahn-Woernle, Robert M. Sherrell, Vincent J. Roccanova, Kaixuan Bu, David Burdige, Maria Vernet, and Katherine A. Barbeau
Biogeosciences, 18, 6349–6375, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6349-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6349-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We show that for an unperturbed cold western Antarctic Peninsula fjord, the seasonality of iron and manganese is linked to the dispersal of metal-rich meltwater sources. Geochemical measurements of trace metals in meltwaters, porewaters, and seawater, collected during two expeditions, showed a seasonal cycle of distinct sources. Finally, model results revealed that the dispersal of surface meltwater and meltwater plumes originating from under the glacier is sensitive to katabatic wind events.
Jenny Hieronymus, Kari Eilola, Malin Olofsson, Inga Hense, H. E. Markus Meier, and Elin Almroth-Rosell
Biogeosciences, 18, 6213–6227, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6213-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6213-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Dense blooms of cyanobacteria occur every summer in the Baltic Proper and can add to eutrophication by their ability to turn nitrogen gas into dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Being able to correctly estimate the size of this nitrogen fixation is important for management purposes. In this work, we find that the life cycle of cyanobacteria plays an important role in capturing the seasonality of the blooms as well as the size of nitrogen fixation in our ocean model.
Tom Hull, Naomi Greenwood, Antony Birchill, Alexander Beaton, Matthew Palmer, and Jan Kaiser
Biogeosciences, 18, 6167–6180, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6167-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-6167-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The shallow shelf seas play a large role in the global cycling of CO2 and also support large fisheries. We use an autonomous underwater vehicle in the central North Sea to measure the rates of change in oxygen and nutrients.
Using these data we determine the amount of carbon dioxide taken out of the atmosphere by the sea and measure how productive the region is.
These observations will be useful for improving our predictive models and help us predict and adapt to a changing ocean.
Puthenveettil Narayana Menon Vinayachandran, Yukio Masumoto, Michael J. Roberts, Jenny A. Huggett, Issufo Halo, Abhisek Chatterjee, Prakash Amol, Garuda V. M. Gupta, Arvind Singh, Arnab Mukherjee, Satya Prakash, Lynnath E. Beckley, Eric Jorden Raes, and Raleigh Hood
Biogeosciences, 18, 5967–6029, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5967-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5967-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Upwelling in the coastal ocean triggers biological productivity and thus enhances fisheries. Therefore, understanding the phenomenon of upwelling and the underlying mechanisms is important. In this paper, the present understanding of the upwelling along the coastline of the Indian Ocean from the coast of Africa all the way up to the coast of Australia is reviewed. The review provides a synthesis of the physical processes associated with upwelling and its impact on the marine ecosystem.
Gaël Many, Caroline Ulses, Claude Estournel, and Patrick Marsaleix
Biogeosciences, 18, 5513–5538, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5513-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5513-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Gulf of Lion shelf is one of the most productive areas in the Mediterranean. A model is used to study the mechanisms that drive the particulate organic carbon (POC). The model reproduces the annual cycle of primary production well. The shelf appears as an autotrophic ecosystem with a high production and as a source of POC for the adjacent basin. The increase in temperature induced by climate change could impact the trophic status of the shelf.
Alireza Merikhi, Peter Berg, and Markus Huettel
Biogeosciences, 18, 5381–5395, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5381-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5381-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The aquatic eddy covariance technique is a powerful method for measurements of solute fluxes across the sediment–water interface. Data measured by conventional eddy covariance instruments require a time shift correction that can result in substantial flux errors. We introduce a triple O2 sensor eddy covariance instrument that by design eliminates these errors. Deployments next to a conventional instrument in the Florida Keys demonstrate the improvements achieved through the new design.
Jiatang Hu, Zhongren Zhang, Bin Wang, and Jia Huang
Biogeosciences, 18, 5247–5264, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5247-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5247-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In situ observations over 42 years were used to explore the long-term changes to low-oxygen conditions in the Pearl River estuary. Apparent expansion of the low-oxygen conditions in summer was identified, primarily due to the combined effects of increased anthropogenic inputs and decreased sediment load. Large areas of severe low-oxygen events were also observed in early autumn and were formed by distinct mechanisms. The estuary seems to be growing into a seasonal, estuary-wide hypoxic zone.
Indah Ardiningsih, Kyyas Seyitmuhammedov, Sylvia G. Sander, Claudine H. Stirling, Gert-Jan Reichart, Kevin R. Arrigo, Loes J. A. Gerringa, and Rob Middag
Biogeosciences, 18, 4587–4601, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4587-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4587-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Organic Fe speciation is investigated along a natural gradient of the western Antarctic Peninsula from an ice-covered shelf to the open ocean. The two major fronts in the region affect the distribution of ligands. The excess ligands not bound to dissolved Fe (DFe) comprised up to 80 % of the total ligand concentrations, implying the potential to solubilize additional Fe input. The ligands on the shelf can increase the DFe residence time and fuel local primary production upon ice melt.
Melissa R. McCutcheon, Hongming Yao, Cory J. Staryk, and Xinping Hu
Biogeosciences, 18, 4571–4586, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4571-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4571-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We used 5+ years of discrete samples and 10 months of hourly sensor measurements to explore temporal variability and environmental controls on pH and pCO2 at the Aransas Ship Channel. Seasonal and diel variability were both present but small compared to other regions in the literature. Despite the small tidal range, tidal control often surpassed biological control. In comparison with sensor data, discrete samples were generally representative of mean annual and seasonal carbonate chemistry.
Kai G. Schulz, Eric P. Achterberg, Javier Arístegui, Lennart T. Bach, Isabel Baños, Tim Boxhammer, Dirk Erler, Maricarmen Igarza, Verena Kalter, Andrea Ludwig, Carolin Löscher, Jana Meyer, Judith Meyer, Fabrizio Minutolo, Elisabeth von der Esch, Bess B. Ward, and Ulf Riebesell
Biogeosciences, 18, 4305–4320, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4305-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4305-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface make eastern boundary upwelling systems hot spots of marine productivity. This leads to subsurface oxygen depletion and the transformation of bioavailable nitrogen into inert N2. Here we quantify nitrogen loss processes following a simulated deep water upwelling. Denitrification was the dominant process, and budget calculations suggest that a significant portion of nitrogen that could be exported to depth is already lost in the surface ocean.
Cited articles
Arakawa, A. and Lamb, V.: Computational design of the basic dynamical processes of the UCLA general circulation model, Methods in Computational Physics, 17, 173–265, 1977.
Azam, F., Fenchel, T., Field, J., Gray, J., Meyer-Reil, L., and Thingstad, F.: The ecological role of water-column microbes in the sea, Mar. Ecol.-Prog. Ser., 10, 257–263, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps010257, 1983.
Backhaus, J.: A three-dimensional model for the simulation of shelf sea dynamics, Deutsche Hydrografische Zeitschrift, 38, 165–187, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02328975, 1985.
Backhaus, J. and Hainbucher, D.: A finite difference general circulation model for shelf seas and its application to low frequency variability on the North European Shelf, Elsev. Oceanogr. Serie, 45, 221–244, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0422-9894(08)70450-1, 1987.
Benson, B. and Krause, D.: The concentration and isotopic fractionation of oxygen dissolved in freshwater and seawater in equilibrium with the atmosphere, Limnol. Oceanogr., 29, 620–632, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1984.29.3.0620, 1984.
Best, M., Wither, A., and Coates, S.: Dissolved oxygen as a physico-chemical supporting element in the Water Framework Directive, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 55, 53–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.08.037, 2007.
Bozec, Y., Thomas, H., Elkalay, K., and de Baar, H.: The continental shelf pump for CO2 in the North Sea – evidence from summer observation, Mar. Chem., 93, 131–147, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2004.07.006, 2005.
Bozec, Y., Thomas, H., Schiettecatte, L.-S., Borges, A., Elkalay, K., and de Baar, H.: Assessment of the processes controlling the seasonal variations of dissolved inorganic carbon in the North Sea, Limnol. Oceanogr., 51, 2746–2762, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.2006.51.6.2746, 2006.
Brockmann, U. and Eberlein, K.: River input of nutrients into the German Bight, in: The Role of Freshwater Outflow in Coastal Marine Ecosystems, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, available at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-70886-2_15 (last access: 29 June 2015), 231–240, 1986.
Brockmann, U. and Topcu, D.: Confidence rating for eutrophication assessments, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 82, 127–136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.007, 2014.
Brockmann, U., Billen, G., and Gieskes, W.: North Sea nutrients and eutrophication, in: Pollution of the North Sea, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, available at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-73709-1_20 (last access: 29 June 2015), 348–389, 1988.
Brockmann, U., Laane, R., and Postma, J.: Cycling of nutrient elements in the North Sea, Neth. J. Sea Res., 26, 239–264, https://doi.org/10.1016/0077-7579(90)90092-U, 1990.
Burt, W., Thomas, H., Pätsch, J., Omar, A., Schrum, C., Daewel, U., Brenner, H., and de Baar, H.: Radium isotopes as a tracer of sediment-water column exchange in the North Sea, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 28, 786–804, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GB004825, 2014.
Chen, X., Liu, C., O'Driscoll, K., Mayer, B., Su, J., and Pohlmann, T.: On the nudging terms at open boundaries in regional ocean models, Ocean Model., 66, 14–25, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2013.02.006, 2013.
Chen, X., Dangendorf, S., Narayan, N., O'Driscoll, K., Tsimplis, M., Su, J., Mayer, B., and Pohlmann, T.: On sea level change in the North Sea influenced by the North Atlantic Oscillation: local and remote steric effects, Estuar. Coast. Shelf S., 151, 186–195, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2014.10.009, 2014.
Claussen, U., Zevenboom, W., Brockmann, U., Topcu, D., and Bot, P.: Assessment of the eutrophication status of transitional, coastal and marine waters within OSPAR, Hydrobiologia, 629, 49–58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-9763-3, 2009.
Conkright, M. E., Locarnini, R. A., Garcia, H. E., O'Brien, T. D., Boyer, T. P., Stephens, C., and Antonov, J. I.: World Ocean Atlas 2001: objective analyses, data statistics and figures CD-ROM documentation, National Oceanographic Data Center Internal Report, National Oceanographic Data Center, Silver Spring, MD, 17, 2002.
de Jong, F.: Marine Eutrophication in Perspective: On the Relevance of Ecology for Environmental Policy, Springer Science and Business Media, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2006.
Diaz, R. and Rosenberg, R.: Spreading dead zones and consequences for marine ecosystems, Science, 321, 926–929, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1156401, 2008.
Druon, J.-N., Schrimpf, W., Dobricic, S., and Stips, A.: Comparative assessment of large-scale marine eutrophication: North Sea area and Adriatic Sea as case studies, Mar. Ecol.-Prog. Ser., 272, 1–23, 2004.
Ducrotoy, J., Elliott, M., and de Jonge, V.: The North Sea, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 41, 5–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(00)00099-0, 2000.
Emeis, K.-C., van Beusekom, J., Callies, U., Ebinghaus, R., Kannen, A., Kraus, G., Kröncke, I., Lenhart, L., Lorkowski, I., Matthias, V., Möllmann, C., Pätsch, J., Scharfe, M., Thomas, H., Weisse, R., and Zorita, Z.: The North Sea – a shelf sea in the Anthropocene, J. Marine Syst., 141, 18–33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.03.012, 2015.
Friedrich, J., Janssen, F., Aleynik, D., Bange, H. W., Boltacheva, N., Çagatay, M. N., Dale, A. W., Etiope, G., Erdem, Z., Geraga, M., Gilli, A., Gomoiu, M. T., Hall, P. O. J., Hansson, D., He, Y., Holtappels, M., Kirf, M. K., Kononets, M., Konovalov, S., Lichtschlag, A., Livingstone, D. M., Marinaro, G., Mazlumyan, S., Naeher, S., North, R. P., Papatheodorou, G., Pfannkuche, O., Prien, R., Rehder, G., Schubert, C. J., Soltwedel, T., Sommer, S., Stahl, H., Stanev, E. V., Teaca, A., Tengberg, A., Waldmann, C., Wehrli, B., and Wenzhöfer, F.: Investigating hypoxia in aquatic environments: diverse approaches to addressing a complex phenomenon, Biogeosciences, 11, 1215–1259, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-1215-2014, 2014.
Greenwood, N., Parker, E. R., Fernand, L., Sivyer, D. B., Weston, K., Painting, S. J., Kröger, S., Forster, R. M., Lees, H. E., Mills, D. K., and Laane, R. W. P. M.: Detection of low bottom water oxygen concentrations in the North Sea; implications for monitoring and assessment of ecosystem health, Biogeosciences, 7, 1357–1373, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-1357-2010, 2010.
Greenwood, N., Sivyer, D., Pearce, D., and Cutchey, S.: SmartBuoy observational network – North Dogger, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK, https://doi.org/10.14466/CefasDataHub.29, 2016.
Gröger, M., Maier-Reimer, E., Mikolajewicz, U., Moll, A., and Sein, D.: NW European shelf under climate warming: implications for open ocean – shelf exchange, primary production, and carbon absorption, Biogeosciences, 10, 3767–3792, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-3767-2013, 2013.
Heath, M., Edwards, A., Pätsch, J., and Turrell, W.: Modelling the Behaviour of Nutrients in the Coastal Waters of Scotland, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit, Edinburgh, 2002.
Jickells, T.: Nutrient biogeochemistry of the coastal zone, Science, 281, 217–222, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.281.5374.217, 1998.
Justić, D., Turner, R., and Rabalais, N.: Climatic influences on riverine nitrate flux: implications for coastal marine eutrophication and hypoxia, Estuaries, 26, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691688, 2003.
Kalnay, E., Kanamitsu, M., Kistler, R., Collins, W., Deaven, D., Gandin, L., Iredell, M., Saha, S., White, G., Woollen, J., Zhu, Y., Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Higgins, W., Janowiak, J., Mo, K., Ropelewski, C., Wang, J., Leetmaa, A., Reynolds, R., Jenne, R., and Joseph, D.: The NCEP/NCAR 40-year reanalysis project, B. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 77, 437–471, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)077<0437:TNYRP>2.0.CO;2, 1996.
Kara, A., Rochford, P., and Hurlburt, H.: An optimal definition for ocean mixed layer depth, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 105, 16803–16821, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JC900072, 2000.
Kemp, W. M., Testa, J. M., Conley, D. J., Gilbert, D., and Hagy, J. D.: Temporal responses of coastal hypoxia to nutrient loading and physical controls, Biogeosciences, 6, 2985–3008, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-6-2985-2009, 2009.
Kistler, R., Collins, W., Saha, S., White, G., Woollen, J., Kalnay, E., Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Kanamitsu, M., Kousky, V., van den Dool, H., Jenne, R., and Fiorino, M.: The NCEP-NCAR 50-year reanalysis: monthly means CD-ROM and documentation, B. Am. Meterorol. Soc., 82, 247–267, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0477(2001)082<0247:TNNYRM>2.3.CO;2, 2001.
Kröncke, I. and Knust, R.: The Dogger Bank: a special ecological region in the central North Sea, Helgoland Mar. Res., 49, 335–353, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368361, 1995.
Lenhart, H.-J. and Pohlmann, T.: The ICES-boxes approach in relation to results of a North Sea circulation model, Tellus A, 49, 139–160, https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0870.1997.00010.x, 1997.
Lenhart, H.-J., Mills, D., Baretta-Bekker, H., van Leeuwen, S., van der Molen, J., Baretta, J., Blaas, M., Desmit, X., Kühn, W., Lacroix, G., Los, H., Ménesguen, A., Neves, R., Proctor, R., Ruardij, P., Skogen, M., Vanhoutte-Brunier, A., Villars, M., and Wakelin, S.: Predicting the consequences of nutrient reduction on the eutrophication status of the North Sea, J. Marine Syst., 81, 148–170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2009.12.014, 2010.
Lohse, L., Kloosterhuis, H., van Raaphorst, W., and Helder, W.: Denitrification rates as measured by the isotope pairing method and by the acetylene inhibition technique in continental shelf sediments of the North Sea, Mar. Ecol.-Prog. Ser., 132, 169–179, 1996.
Lorkowski, I., Pätsch, J., Moll, A., and Kühn, W.: Interannual variability of carbon fluxes in the North Sea from 1970 to 2006 – Competing effects of abiotic and biotic drivers on the gas-exchange of CO2, Estuar. Coast. Shelf S., 100, 38–57, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2011.11.037, 2012.
Lowe, J., Howard, T., Pardaens, A., Tinker, J., Holt, J., Wakelin, S., Milne, G., Leake, J., Wolf, J., Horsburgh, K., Reeder, T., Jenkins, G., Ridley, J., Dye, S., and Bradley, S.: UK Climate Projections Science Report: Marine and Coastal Projections, Tech. rep., Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UK, available at: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/9734/ (last access: 29 June 2015), 2009.
Mathis, M., and Pohlmann, T.: Projection of physical conditions in the North Sea for the 21st century. Clim. Res., 61, 1–17, https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01232, 2014.
Meire, L., Soetaert, K. E. R., and Meysman, F. J. R.: Impact of global change on coastal oxygen dynamics and risk of hypoxia, Biogeosciences, 10, 2633–2653, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2633-2013, 2013.
Mills, D. K., Greenwood, N., Kröger, S., Devlin, M., Sivyer, D. B., Pearce, D., Cutchey, S., and Malcolm, S.: New approaches to improve the detection of eutrophication in UK coastal waters, Environ. Res. Eng. Manag., 2, 36–42, 2005.
Müller, L.: Sauerstoffdynamik der Nordsee – Untersuchungen mit einem drei-dimensionalen Ökosystemmodell, Berichte des BSH, 43, 1–171, 2008 (in German only).
Neumann, T.: Towards a 3D-ecosystem model of the Baltic Sea, J. Marine Syst., 25, 405–419, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-7963(00)00030-0, 2000.
O'Boyle, S. and Nolan, G.: The influence of water column stratification on dissolved oxygen levels in coastal and shelf waters around Ireland, Biol. Environ., 110B, 195–209, https://doi.org/10.3318/BIOE.2010.110.3.195, 2010.
O'Driscoll, K., Mayer, B., Ilyina, T., and Pohlmann, T.: Modelling the cycling of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the North Sea system: fluxes, loading, seasonality, trends, J. Marine Syst., 111, 69–82, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.09.011, 2013.
OSPAR-Commission: OSPAR integrated report 2003 on the eutrophication status of the OSPAR maritime area based upon the first application of the Comprehensive Procedure, London, 2003.
OSPAR-Commission: Common procedure for the identification of the eutrophication status of the OSPAR maritime area, London, 2005.
Otto, L., Zimmerman, J., Furnes, G., Mork, M., Saetre, R., and Becker, G.: Review of the physical oceanography of the North Sea, Neth. J. Sea Res., 26, 161–238, https://doi.org/10.1016/0077-7579(90)90091-T, 1990.
Pätsch, J. and Kühn, W.: Nitrogen and carbon cycling in the North Sea and exchange with the North Atlantic – a model study. Part I. Nitrogen budget and fluxes, Cont. Shelf Res., 28, 767–787, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2007.12.013, 2008.
Pingree, R., Holligan, P., and Mardell, G.: The effects of vertical stability on phytoplankton distributions in the summer on the northwest European Shelf, Deep-Sea Res., 25, 1011–1016, https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6291(78)90584-2, 1978.
Pohlmann, T.: Untersuchung hydro- und thermodynamischer Prozesse in der Nordsee mit einem dreidimensionalen numerischem Modell, Berichte aus dem Zentrum für Meeres- und Klimaforschung, Reihe B, Zentrum für Meeres- und Klimaforschung der Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, 1–116, 1991.
Pohlmann, T.: Predicting the thermocline in a circulation model of the North Sea – Part I: model description, calibration and verification, Cont. Shelf Res., 16, 131–146, https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-4343(95)90885-S, 1996.
Queste, B., Fernand, L., Jickells, T., and Heywood, K.: Spatial extent and historical context of North Sea oxygen depletion in August 2010, Biogeochemistry, 113, 53–68, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9729-9, 2013.
Rabalais, N. N., Díaz, R. J., Levin, L. A., Turner, R. E., Gilbert, D., and Zhang, J.: Dynamics and distribution of natural and human-caused hypoxia, Biogeosciences, 7, 585–619, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-7-585-2010, 2010.
Rachor, E. and Albrecht, H.: Sauerstoff-Mangel im Bodenwasser der Deutschen Bucht, Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh., 19, 209–227, 1983.
Reinthaler, T., Bakker, K., Manuels, R., Van Ooijen, J., and Herndl, G.: Fully automated spectrophotometric approach to determine oxygen concentrations in seawater via continuous-flow analysis, Limnol. Oceanogr.-Meth., 4, 358–366, https://doi.org/10.4319/lom.2006.4.358, 2006.
Salt, L., Thomas, H., Prowe, A., Borges, A., Bozec, Y., and de Baar, H.: Variability of North Sea pH and CO2 in response to North Atlantic Oscillation forcing, J. Geophys. Res.-Biogeo., 118, 1584–1592, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JG002306, 2013.
Schernewski, G., Friedland, R., Carstens, M., Hirt, U., Leujak, W., Nausch, G., Neumann, T., Petenati, T., Sagert, S., Wasmund, N., and von Weber, M.: Implementation of European marine policy: new water quality targets for German Baltic waters, Mar. Policy, 51, 305–321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2014.09.002, 2015.
Schöpp, W., Posch, M., Mylona, S., and Johansson, M.: Long-term development of acid deposition (1880–2030) in sensitive freshwater regions in Europe, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 7, 436–446, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-7-436-2003, 2003.
Seitzinger, S. and Giblin, A.: Estimating denitrification in North Atlantic continental shelf sediments, Biogeochemistry, 35, 235–260, 1996.
Steele, J.: Environmental control of photosynthesis in the sea, Limnol. Oceanogr., 7, 137–150, https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1962.7.2.0137, 1962.
Taylor, K.: Summarizing multiple aspects of model performance in a single diagram, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 106, 7183–7192, 2001.
Thomas, H., Bozec, Y., Elkalay, K., de Baar, H. J. W., Borges, A. V., and Schiettecatte, L.-S.: Controls of the surface water partial pressure of CO2 in the North Sea, Biogeosciences, 2, 323–334, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2-323-2005, 2005.
Thomas, H. and Borges, A.: Carbon Dioxide, Hydrographic, and Chemical Data Obtained During the R/V Pelagia Cruise 64PE239 in the North Sea (17 August–6 September, 2005), Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/OTG.PELAGIA_64PE239, 2012.
Thomas, H., Borges, A., Derksen, J., and Bakker, K.: Carbon Dioxide, Hydrographic, and Chemical Data Obtained During the R/V Pelagia CANOBA Cruises in the North Sea (2001–2002), Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, https://doi.org/10.3334/CDIAC/OTG.PELAGIA_CANOBA, 2012.
Topcu, H. D. and Brockmann, U. H.: Seasonal oxygen depletion in the North Sea, a review, Mar. Pollut. Bull., 99, 5–27 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.021, 2015.
Topcu, D., Brockmann, U., and Claussen, U.: Relationship between eutrophication reference conditions and boundary settings considering OSPAR recommendations and the Water Framework Directive – examples from the German Bight, Hydrobiologia, 629, 91–106, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-009-9778-9, 2009.
Troost, T., Blaas, M., and Los, F.: The role of atmospheric deposition in the eutrophication of the North Sea: a model analysis, J. Marine Syst., 125, 101–112, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.10.005, 2013.
Upton, A., Nedwell, D., Parkes, R., and Harvey, S.: Seasonal benthic microbial activity in the southern North Sea; oxygen uptake and sulphate reduction, Mar. Ecol.-Prog. Ser., 101, 273–281, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps101273, 1993.
van der Molen, J., Aldridge, J., Coughlan, C., Parker, E., Stephens, D., and Ruardij, P.: Modelling marine ecosystem response to climate change and trawling in the North Sea, Biogeochemistry, 113, 213–236, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-012-9763-7, 2013.
van Leeuwen, S., Tett, P., Mills, D., and van der Molen, J.: Stratified and non-stratified areas in the North Sea: long-term variability and biological and policy implications, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 120, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JC010485, 2015.
Vaquer-Sunyer, R., and Duarte, C. M.: Thresholds of hypoxia for marine biodiversity, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 15452–15457, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0803833105, 2008.
von Westernhagen, H., Hickel, W., Bauerfeind, E., Niermann, U., and Kröncke, I.: Sources and effects of oxygen deficiencies in the south-eastern North Sea, Ophelia, 26, 457–473, https://doi.org/10.1080/00785326.1986.10422006, 1986.
Wanninkhof, R.: Relationship between wind speed and gas exchange, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 7373–7382, https://doi.org/10.1029/92JC00188, 1992.
Weston, K., Fernand, L., Nicholls, J., Marca-Bell, A., Mills, D., Sivyer, D., and Trimmer, M.: Sedimentary and water column processes in the Oyster Grounds: a potentially hypoxic region of the North Sea, Mar. Environ. Res., 65, 235–249, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.11.002, 2008.
Zemmelink, H.: Cruise Report of the cruise 64PE294, Texel, NL – Texel, NL, 19.08.2008–11.09.2008, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), available at: http://melia.nioz.nl/public/dmg/rpt/crs/64pe294.pdf (last access: 26 April 2016), 2008.
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.
We used the ECOHAM5 model to provide a consistent picture of the physical and biological drivers...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint