ALBERT

Description: Basalts from the Reykjanes Ridge contain noble gases delivered from the non-degassed lower mantle by the Iceland plume. These lower mantle gases are thought to be a mixture of planetary and solar components, as would be expected if the Earth accreted from fine silicate particles.

Description: Strandings of the giant squid, Architeuthis monachus (Steen-strup), have always stirred attention because of the rarity and enormous size of these cephalopods. These animals have never been observed in their natural habitat and little is known about their physiology and ecology. Stranding of giant squids in Newfoundland waters has been correlated with the inflow of warm water, suggesting that increased temperature may be causing their death1. Squids have also been carried to the Norwegian coast with the warm North Atlantic current2 and on 23 August 1982 a live specimen was caught off Radöy near Bergen, Norway (Fig. 1). This catch gave an unprecedented opportunity to study the effects of temperature on the oxygen binding properties of blood from the giant squid. The present finding of an excess of a fourfold decrease in O2 affinity when temperature is increased from 6.4 to 15°C strongly suggests that giant squids may suffocate from arterial desaturation when increased ambient temperatures are experierced.

Description: Measurements by CTDs (Multisonde, Bathysonde) and current profilers were carried out onboard the research vessels "Meteor" and "Planet" during the Joint Air-Sea Interaction Project (JASIN) in 1978. Data from these observations are presented in the form of mean distributions with their standard deviations, as time series and as profiles during the "multiship experiments". Selected time series of terms derived from the data are added: current shear, Vaisala frequency and Richardson Number. The text also contains information concerning instrument calibration and data processing.

Description: The three Federal German research vessels "Planet", "Meteor" and "Poseidon" participated in the Second Multiship Experiment during JASIN 1978 as stationary ships with CTD yo-yo profiling. The analysis is concerned mainly with the weakly stratified layer between the seasonal thermocline and the turbulent mixed layer. The thermoclinic structure of a front in that layer and its tidal/inertial displacement is described and is shown to be in accordance with current meter data from the H2 mooring. It is shown that the CTD yo-yos cannot be treated as pure time-series but that the movement of the ships relative to the seabed and relative to the front has to be taken into account. The method of isopycnic analysis was used to eliminate the effect of internal waves. Temporal coordinates can be converted to spatial coordinates allowing for the tidal/inertial movements. Thus high resolution sections through the front can be given. The thermohaline structure is described on density levels in the seasonal thermocline and in the weakly stratified layer above it.

Description: We present field measurements of air-sea gas exchange by the radon deficit method that were carried out during JASIN 1978 (NE Atlantic) and FGGE 1979 (Equatorial Atlantic). Both experiments comprised repeated deficit measurements at mixed position over periods of days or longer, using a previously described precise and fast-acquisition, automatic radon measuring system. The deficit time series exhibit variations that only partly reflect the expected changes in gas transfer. By evaluating averages over each time series we deduce the following average gas transfer velocities (average wind velocity and water temperature in parentheses): JASIN phase 1: 1.6 ± 0.8 mid (at -6 mis, 13 °C) JASIN phase 2: 4.3 ± 1.2 mid (at -8 mis, 13 °C) FGGE: 1.2 ± 0.4 mid (at -5 mis, 28 °C) 0.9 ± 0.4 mid (at -7 mis, 28 °C) 1.5 ± 0.4 mid (at -7 mis, 28 °C) The large difference between the JASIN phase 2 and FGGE values despite quite similar average wind velocity becomes even larger when the values are corrected to a common temperature. Both values are, however, fully compatible with the range of gas transfer velocities observed in laboratory experiments and the conclusion is suggested that their difference is caused by the highly different wind variability in JASIN and FGGE. We conclude that in gas exchange parameterization it is not sufficient to consider wind velocity only. A comparison of our observations with laboratory results outlines the range of variation of air-sea gas transfer velocities with wind velocity and sea state. We also reformulate the radon deficit method, in the light of our observed deficit variations, to account explicitely for non-stationarity and horizontal inhomogeneity in the near-surface radon deficit layer (i.e., mixed-layer and upper thermocline). We show that neglection of non-stationarity and horizontal inhomogeneity in previous radon work introduces considerable uncertainty in deduced gas transfer velocities. We furthermore discuss the observational requirements that have to be met for an adequate exploitation of the radon deficit method, of which an observation area of minimum horizontal inhomogeneity and monitoring of the remaining inhomogeneities are thought to be the most stringent ones.

Description: Data from two current meter moorings and thermosa�linograph records from the Scotia Sea are presented. Results from the first mooring site demonstrate the ex�change of Antarctic Bottom Water between the northern Scotia Sea and the Argentine Basin. The sec�ond current data set illustrates the permanent deep counter current on the continental rise of the southern Drake Passage. Surface temperature and salinity rec�ords describe the position of the Polar Front and the Weddell-Scotia-Confluence during early austral sum�mer 1980/81.

Description: Seven cores from the West-African continental margin in 12-18° N have been investigated by means of a coarse fraction analysis. Four of the seven cores contain allochthonous material: turbidites and debris flow deposits. The source of the allochthonous material is in about 300-600 m water depth. The age of the slide induced debris flow deposits is at the end of oxygen isotope stage 2. One debris flow deposit is covered by a turbidite (core 13211). The turbidites in the deep-sea core 13207 originate from river-influenced sediments from the West-African continental margin, whereas the autochthonous sequences are influenced by volcanic material from the Cape Verde Islands. Particle by particle supply from upper slope areas has been found in all four cores from the continental slope. Current sorting occurs on the submarine diapir (core 89), whereas core 91 on the NW-flanc, 200 m below core 89, has no current sorting, except for stage 1 and parts of stage 5. The current sorting is reflected by parallel variations of median diameters of whole tests and of fragments of planktonic foraminifers, by higher median diameters of foraminifers on top of the diapir, by reduced accumulation rates and increased sand fraction percentages in core 89 compared to core 91. The Late Quarternary climatic history of the West-African near coastal area (12-18° N) has been redrawn (Fig. 10): - in oxygen isotope stage 1 a humid climate is found in 12-18° N (This "humid impression" in 18° N, which is actually an arid area, is due to the poleward directed undercurrent, which transports Senegal river material to the north). - in oxygen isotope stage 2 an arid climate existed in 14-18° N, whereas in 12° N river discharge persisted. But within stage 2 dune formation occurred in 12° N on the (dry) shelf, additionally to fluviatile sediment input. - Older periods are preserved in autochthonous sediments of core 89 and 91, where oxygen stages 3, 5 and 7 (the latter only in core 89 present) show a humid climate (as well as in stage 5 of core 55), interrupted by short arid intervals in core 89, and stage 4 and 6 show an arid climate, interrupted by short humid periods (s. Fig. 10). The allochthonous stage 5 sediment in core 11 also reflects a humid climate. The dissolution of planktonic foraminifers is strongest in the Late Holocene and shows a minimum in the Early Holocene, where also pteropods are preserved. The degree of carbonate dissolution is related mainly to the fine matter content (〈 63 μm) (Fig. 11) whereas water depth is a less decisive factor.

Description: Foraminifera shells from modern sediments document the hydrography of the coastal upwelling region off Northwest-Africa (12-35° N) through the stable isotopic composition of their shells. Oxygen isotopes in planktonic foraminifers reflect sea-surface temperatures (SST) during the main growing season of the different species: Globigerinoides ruber (pink and white) and G. sacculifer delineate the temperatures of the summer, Globorotalia inflata and Pulleniatina obliquiloculata those of the winter. Oxygen isotopes in Globigerina bitlloides document temperature ranges of the upwelling seasons. δ18O values in planktonic foraminifera from plankton hauls resemble those from surface sediment samples, if the time of the plankton collection is identical with that of the main growing season of the species. The combined isotopic record of G. ruber (white) and G. inflata clearly reveals the latitudinal variations of the annual mean SST. The deviation of the δ18O values from both species from their common mean is a scale for the seasonality, i.e. the maximum temperature range within one year. Thus in the summer upwelling region (north of 25° N) seasonality is relatively low, while it becomes high in the winter upwelling region south of 20° N. Furthermore, the winter upwelling region is characterized by relatively high δ18O values - indicating low temperatures - in G. bulloides, the region of summer upwelling by relatively low δ18O values compared with the constructed annual mean SST. Generally, carbon isotopes from plankton hauls coincide with those from sediment surface samples. The encrichment of 13C isotopes in foraminifers from areas with high primary production can be caused by the removal of 12C from the total dissolved inorganic carbon during phytoplankton blooms. It is found thatcarbon isotopes from plankton hauls off Northwest-Africa are relatively enriched in 13C compared with samples from the western Atlantic Ocean. Also shells of G. ruber (pink and white) from upwelling regions are enriched in the heavy isotope compared with regions without upwelling. In the sediment, the enrichment of 13C due to high primary production can only be seen in G. bulloides from the high fertile upwelling region south of 20° N. North of this latitude values are relatively low. An enrichment of 12C is observed in shells of G. rnber (pink), G. inflata and P. obliquiloculata from summer-, winter- and perennial upwelling regions respectively. Northern water masses can be distinguished from their southern counterparts by relatively high oxygen and carbon values in the "living" (= stained) benthic foraminifera Uvigerina sp. and Hoeglundina elegans. A tongue of Mediterranean Outflow Water can be identified far to the south (20° N) by 13C-enriched shells of these benthic foraminifera. A zone of erosion (15-25° N, 300-600 m) with a subrecent sediment surface can be mapped with the help of oxygen isotopes in "dead" benthic specimens. Comparison of δ18O values in aragonitic and calcitic benthic foraminifers does not show a differential influence of temperature on the isotopic composition in the carbonate. However, carbon isotopes reflect slight differences under the influence of temperature.

Description: In samples from the Iberian Basin and off Cape Blanc, dredged from below 2000 m, 10 species of ophiuroids were found, viz. Ophioscolex sp., Ophiambix meteoris, Amphioplus verrilli, Amphilepis sp., Ophiochiton ternispinus, Amphiophiura convexa, Ophiocten latens, Ophiura ljungmani, Ophiomusium lymani, and Ophiosphalma armigerum. The distribution of the species found is summarized. The descriptions of Amphioplus verrilli, Ophiochiton ternispinus, Ophiomusium lymani, and Ophiosphalma armigerum are extended. Silax pulvinus is supposed to be synonymous with Amphioplus verrilli. The genus Silax is withdrawn. Most of the genera and many of the species are cosrnopolitans. The ophiuroids found have no morphological characteristics distinguishing them as deep-sea forms.

Description: A general study of structure, biomass, and dynamic estimates on meiofauna was carried out during PREFLEX (1975) and FLEX (1976), in 117-141 m water depth. On the basis of these data an attempt was made to estimate meiofauna production, and this is discussed in relation to the energy input from the spring phytoplankton bloom. Sampling was performed at five stations, but only the stations 1, 4, and 5 were covered by a complete series from August 1975 to July 1976. At each station, from four replicate box core samples, two were withdrawn to study the abundance, distribution, and biomass of meiofauna, the content of chloroplastic pigment equivalents (CPE), and chemical and grain size analyses. At all stations grain size feil in the range of fine sand having median diameters (MD) of 〈125 μm. From Station 1 to 5 an increase in MD was observed. Highest values of CPE (7.81 μg ml-1) and organic matter (4.7%) were obtained in June and July (1976)/August (1975), respectively. Meiofauna abundance was fairly uniform at all stations examined. Station 1 displayed maximal numbers during the whole investigation period. The abundance per 100 cm2 varied between 15,550 and 34,900 organisms. All meiofauna studied both in total and as separate taxa showed annual cycles of abundance. Low abundance values were recorded during early summer, and maximum values during winter. High numbers of Foraminifera were obtained for August 1975 (9,460 per 100 cm2) and July 1976 (9,710 per 100 cm2). From December to June the values decreased from 3,280 to 1,030 per 100 cm2. At station 1 maximum values of meiofauna biomass were recorded ranging from 1.5 to 2.7 g DWT m-2. The mean meiofauna dry weight amounted to 2.1 g DWT m-2. Based on minimum production, the P/B ratio for the area of Station 1 might have a mean of 1.4. Taking into consideration generation times we believe that a turnover ratio of 2 is a conservative value for the Fladen Ground meiofauna. The annual production would amount to 4.2 g DWT m-2 yr-1. This is 27.5% of the energy supply during the spring phytoplankton bloom, which is channelled into the meiofauna. The hypothesis is put forward that the energetic strategy of deep offshore meiofauna differs distinctively from that of shallow inshore meiofauna. While the shallow inshore meiofauna show a relatively fast response to organic matter input, the deep offshore meiofauna reacts much more slowly, the food energy consumption seems to be spread out over a longer period.

Description: A general study of structure, biomass estimates and dynamics on the macrofauna was carried out in August 1975 and March 1976 during PREFLEX (1975) and FLEX (1976), the Fladen Ground Experiment. On the basis of these data an attempt was made to estimate macrobenthic production expressed as minimum production (MP). The macrobenthic production is discussed together with meiobenthic annual production (FAUBEL, HARTWIG & THIEL 1983) and with indirectly estimated microbenthic production in relation to an energy input from the water column of about 25g C m-2 year-1 (STEELE 1974). From the production estimates of the three benthic components a rough energy budget is proposed. Sampling was performed at five Stations for endofauna twice during the time of investigation and for epifauna once. At each station two replicate box core samples (30 X 20 cm) were taken for endofauna. Epifauna was sampled with an Agassiz trawl once at each Station. The total numbers of endofauna increased from station l to 5. This was valid as well for August 1975 (4,233-12,166 individuals per m2 and 10 cm sediment depth) as for March 1976 (1,008-2,925 individuals). The polychaetes were the dominant organisms with a share of 33 to 62%. The densities for the endofauna decreased from August 1975 to March 1976 by a mean factor of 2.8. Abundances of epifauna amounted to values between 11 and 102 individuals per 1000 m2. The biomass dry weights (DWT) for macrobenthic endofauna varied between 0.97g DWT m-2 and 6.42g DWT m-2 in August 1975 and between 0.27g DWT m-2 and 2.64g DWT m-2 in March 1976. The mean amounted to 1.74g DWT m-2. Dry weights of epifauna biomass gave values between 4.9 and 83.1g DWT, 1000 m-2. The minimum production for the total macro-endofauna at Fladen Ground amounted to 1.43g DWT m-2 yr-1 or 0.82g C m-2 yr-1. This resulted in a minimum turnover rate (P/B) of 0.8. The share produced by the polychaetes amounted to 1.06g DWT m-2 yr-1 or 74%.

Description: Based on more than 1800 neuston tows, the ranges and mean abundances per area of 10 taxa of beloniform fish are calculated. The distributional patterns of fry of most oceanic taxa are a consequence of both surface temperatures and direction of currents. Oxyporhamphus microptems has a strictly tropical distribution; in the centre of its distribution the mean abundance reaches 10-50 ind./1000 m2. Nanichthys simulans occurs polewards of 0. micropterus, mainly within the great warm circulation systems. Scomberesox saurus has a bipolar subtropical-temperate distribution with seasonal shift of the boundaries, and a general abundance of 30-40 ind./1000 m2, though in subtropical frontal zones values above 100 ind./1000 m2 are common. Exocoetus volitans covers the warmer parts of the Atlantic, but has two antiequatorial belts of maximum abundance within the tropics (25-35 ind./1000 m2). The other exocoetid taxa have similar poleward boundaries as E. volitans. E. obtusirostris and genus Cypselurus average 1.5 ind./1000 m2, whilst Prognichthys gibbifrons, Danichthys rondeletii and genus Hirundichthys have mean abundances of an order of 0.5 ind./1000 m2. Belone svetovidovi is strictly neritic, and shows great regional differences of abundance off NW Africa.

Description: Macro- and meiobenthic abundance and biomass as well as metabolic activity (respiration, ETS activity) have been studied along a transect ranging from 130 to 3000 m water depth off northern Morocco (35° N) during "Meteor" cruise No. 53 (1980). The distribution of chloroplastic pigment concentration (chlorophyll a, pheophytins) in the sediment has been investigated as a measure of sedimented primary organic matter. High chloroplastic pigment concentrations were found on the shelf and around the shelf break, but values declined rapidly between 200 and 600 m depth. Below 1200 m pigment concentrations remained at a relatively uniform low level. Macrobenthic abundance and biomass (wet weight) decreased with increasing water depth and with distance from the shore. Significant changes occurred between the shelf and upper slope and below 2000 m depth. Meiobenthic abundance and biomass (ash free dry weight) followed the same general pattern, but changes were found below 400 and 800 m depth. In the depth range of 1200 to 3000 m values differ only slightly. Meiofauna abundance and biomass show a good correlation with the sedimentary chloroplastic pigment concentrations. Respiratory activity of sediment cores, measured by a shipboard technique at ambient temperatures, decreased with water depth and shows a good correlation with the pigment concentrations. ETS activity was highest on the shelf and decreased with water depth, with significant changes between 200 and 400 m, and below 1200 m depth, respectively. Activity was generally highest in the top 5 cm of the sediment and was measurable, at all Stations, down to 15 cm sediment depth. Shelf and upper slope stations exhibited a vertical distribution pattern of ETS activity in the sediment column, different from that of deeper Stations. The importance of biological activity measurements as an estimate of productivity is discussed. To prove the thesis that differences in benthic abundance, biomass and activity reflect differences in pelagic surface primary production, in the case of the NW-African coast caused by different upwelling intensities, the values from 35° N were compared with data from 21° N (permanent upwelling activity) and 17° N (ca. 9 months upwelling per year). On the shelf and upper slope (〈 500 m) hydrographical conditions (currents, internal waves) influence the deposition of organic matter and cause a biomass minimum between 200 and 400 m depth in some regions. But, in general, macrobenthic abundance and biomass increases with enhanced upwelling activity and reaches a maximum in the area off Cape Blanc (21° N). On the shelf and in the shelf break region meiofauna densities are higher at 35° N in comparison to 21° N; but in contrast to the decreasing meiofauna abundance with increasing water depth at 35° N, an abundance maximum between 400 and 1200 m depth is formed in the Cape Blanc region; this maximum coincides with the maximum of sedimenta1y chloroplastic pigment equivalents. The comparison of ETS activities between 35° N and 21° N shows on the shelf activity at 21° N is up to 14 times higher and on the slope 4-9 times higher, which demonstrates that benthic activity responds to the surface productivity regime.

Description: 7 new Harpacticoidea species and the female of a known species of the family Cletodidae (Crustacea, Copepoda) new to science are dealt with in this paper. Heteropsyllus serratus n. sp. Mesocletodes trisetosa n. sp. Mesocletodes parabodini n. sp. Mesocletodes variabilis n. sp. Paranannop11s plumosus n. sp. Paranannopus langi WELLS, 1965 ♀ Metahuntemannia pseudomagniceps n. sp. Metahuntemannia atlantica n. sp. As far as possible the species relationships within each genus are discussed. All species were collected at 500 m depth on the Iceland-Faroer-Ridge.

Description: In the present paper results of taxonomic investigations on 1137 specimens of Cyllopus magellanicus DANA 1853 and of 730 specimens of Cyllopus lucasii BATE 1862 are reported. A brief diagnosis and key are given for the genus and the species. For the first time larvae of the pantochelis stage of these species are described. The habitus of the larvae are very similar, small differences were found on the structures of the pereopod 3-6. Due to special morphological similarities it is concluded that the larvae of both species display a parasitic way of life like Vibilia. The distribution of the species in the Antarctic Ocean is circumpolar: C. magellanicus occurs probably only within the West Wind Drift while C. lucasii was found within both the West and the East Wind Drift. Remarkable is the occurrence of a great number of males of C. magellanicus in the uppermost layer (30-0 cm depth), meanwhile the females of this species were found only in deeper layers.