Publication Date:
2016-09-01
Description:
Mesoscale eddies in the ocean strongly impact the distribution of planktonic particles, mediating carbon fluxes over ~1/3 of the world ocean. However, mechanisms controlling particle transport through eddies are complex and challenging to measure in situ . Here we show the subsurface distribution of eddy particles funnelled into a wine-glass shape down to 1000 m, leading to a 7-fold increase of vertical carbon flux in the eddy centre vs the eddy flanks, the “wine glass effect”. We show that the slope of the wine glass ( R ) is the ratio of particle sinking velocity to the radially inward velocity, such that R represents a tool to predict radial particle movement (here 0.05 m s -1 ). A simple model of eddy spin-down predicts such an ageostrophic flow concentrating particles in the eddy centre. We explore how size-specific particle flux toward the eddy centre impacts eddies´ biogeochemistry and export fluxes.
Print ISSN:
0094-8276
Electronic ISSN:
1944-8007
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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