COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Mesoscale ocean fronts enhance carbon export due to gravitational sinking and subduction
Description: Here investigators show that the flux of sinking particles (typically considered the dominant form of downward transport of organic carbon) in the ocean is twice as high at a frontal system, relative to surrounding waters or to nonfrontal conditions. Furthermore, downward transport by subduction leads to additional carbon export at the front that is similar in magnitude to the sinking flux. Such enhanced C export at episodic and mesoscale features needs to be incorporated into biogeochemical forecast models. [Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]
URL: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/01/19/1609435114.abstract
Availability: Summary
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Publish Date: 1/23/2017
Reading Level: Expert
Page Length:  

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