Article (Scientific journals)
Impact of vertical and horizontal advection on nutrient distribution in the southeast Pacific
Barceló-Llull, Barbara; Mason, Evan; Capet, Arthur et al.
2016In Ocean Science, 12 (4), p. 1003-1011
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Abstract :
[en] An innovative approach is used to analyze the impact of vertical velocities associated with quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics on the redistribution and uptake of nitrate in the southeast Pacific (SEP). A total of 12 years of vertical and horizontal currents are derived from an observation based estimate of the ocean state. Horizontal velocities are obtained through the application of thermal wind balance to weekly temperature and salinity fields. Vertical velocities are estimated by integration of the QG omega equation. Seasonal variability of the synthetic vertical velocity and kinetic energy associated with the horizontal currents is coincident, with peaks in austral summer (November–December) in accord with published observations. The impact of vertical velocity on SEP nitrate uptake rates is assessed by using two Lagrangian particle tracking experiments that differ according to vertical forcing (ω = ωQG vs. ω = 0). From identical initial distributions of nitrate-tagged particles, the Lagrangian results show that vertical motions induce local increases in nitrate uptake reaching up to 30 %. Such increases occur in low uptake regions with high mesoscale activity. Despite being weaker than horizontal currents by a factor of up to 10−4, vertical velocity associated with mesoscale activity is demonstrated to make an important contribution to nitrate uptake, hence productivity, in low uptake regions.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Barceló-Llull, Barbara;  Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Mason, Evan;  Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies - IMEDEA
Capet, Arthur  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > MAST (Modeling for Aquatic Systems)
Pascual, Ananda;  Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies - IMEDEA
Language :
English
Title :
Impact of vertical and horizontal advection on nutrient distribution in the southeast Pacific
Publication date :
August 2016
Journal title :
Ocean Science
ISSN :
1812-0784
eISSN :
1812-0792
Publisher :
European Geosciences Union
Volume :
12
Issue :
4
Pages :
1003-1011
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Name of the research project :
E-MOTION
Funders :
Spanish National Research Program
Available on ORBi :
since 01 September 2016

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