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Longitudinal variability of export fluxes of particulate matter based on 234 Th budgets in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean along 40S [GEOTRACES Cruises D357 and JC068]. By Katsiaryna Pabortsava, Dr. Patrick Martin, Dr. Richard Sanders, Prof. Richard Lampitt JC068 Post-Cruise Meeting
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Longitudinal variability of export fluxes of particulate matter based on 234Th budgets in the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean along 40S [GEOTRACES Cruises D357 and JC068] By Katsiaryna Pabortsava, Dr. Patrick Martin, Dr. Richard Sanders, Prof. Richard Lampitt JC068 Post-Cruise Meeting 10-11 September 2012
Outline • Background • Objectives • Methods: model rationale, on-board and laboratory work • D357/JC068: current results • Conclusions/Summary • Future work
Global Carbon Budget [IPCC Report 2007]
Biological Carbon Pump [U.S. JGOFS]
Variability in Carbon Export Flux 80N 40N 0 40S [Lutz et al , 2007] 0.05 0.01 1 10 50 Flux (g Corg m-2 yr-1)
2. Objectives • Verify Lutz et al 2007 Carbon Flux estimates in the Southern Atlantic Ocean • Quantify longitudinal variations in downward fluxes of particulate organic Carbon (POC), Nitrogen (PON), inorganic Carbon (PIC), biogenic Silica (BSi) , and Micronutrient Metals based on the measured 234Th budgets and identify causes of those variations • Relate the 234Th derived particle fluxes with • Micronutrients metal fluxes and their concentration profiles • Upward fluxes via mixing • Explore the relationships between nutrient cycling, phytoplankton community structure and variability of the 234Th-derived particle fluxes
3.1234Th Scavenging model • 234Th is a good proxy for estimation of particle formation, transport and dissolution • decay-product of naturally occurring conservative 238U (t1/2=4.5x109 yr) • short-lived isotope (t1/2=24.1 days) • particle reactive: removed from the surface with sinking particles creating 234Th : 238U disequilibrium
3.1234Th Scavenging model 234Th : 238U activity ratio • Secular equilibrium if234Th : 238U =1 • No particles • 234Th-deficit if 234Th : 238U <1 • Uptake by particles • 234Th-excess if 234Th : 238U >1 • Remineralization Activity,dpm L-1 0 234Th 238U Depth,m 500
3.1234Th Scavenging model • Total 234Th activity, dpm l-1 d-1: • Net loss of 234Th via sinking particles: • Integrated 234Th flux from surface to depth z at steady state: Flux Credits: F.A.C. Le Moigne
234Th Scavenging model • Chen et. al 1986 Uranium-salinity relationship : • Measure concentration of 234Th and POC on sinking particles: Flux Credits: F.A.C. Le Moigne
3.2 Sample collection at sea • Total 234Th – ‘small’ volume technique • From a CTD rosette: 4L water collected at different horizons from surface to depth • Higher sampling resolution in the upper 100m • Particulate 234Th, POC, PON, PIC, BSi • Stand Alone Pumps (SAPS) • 53um and 1um mesh size fractionation • 3-7 depths below the base of the mixed layer
3.3 Sample processing Th-234 co-precipitated with MnO2 RISØ low level β-counter SAPS Folsom Splitter
3.3 Sample processing • On-board • MnO2 co-precipitation of total 234Th; spiking with 230Th yield tracer • First 234Th activity count (total and particulate) on RISØ low level β-counter • Splitting and filtration of SAPS samples • Land Laboratory • Background activity count after 234Th completely decayed (~ 6 months) • Purification and quantification of 234Th recovery via anion-exchange chromatography and ICP-MS analysis • POC/PON analysis • PIC content from Ca measurements on ICP-OES • BSi content from Si measurement via wet alkaline digestion
D357: • 4 SAPS deployments at 1-3 depth below MLD • 6 CTD casts at 7-20 depths (0-400m) for total 234Th • 2 CTD casts are reoccupation stations • 1 deep CTD cast at >1000m depth for counter calibration • JC068: • 4 SAPS deployments at 3-7 depths below MLD • 10 CTD casts at 10-14 depths (0-400m) for total 234Th • 2 deep CTD casts at >1000m depth for counter calibration D357
Current state of the D357/JC068 data • D357: All laboratory analyses and data processing were completed by Dr. Patrick Martin • JC068: • First Th-234 activity count = complete • Th-234 background activity count = in progress • Particulate (SAPS) samples are prepared for analyses
D357/JC068 Th-234 Activity profiles East • JC068 Data • Background 234Th activity: 0.30±0.01cpm • Precipitation efficiency: 95±1% Mid-Ocean Ridge West
D357/JC068 Th-234 Activity profiles at the reoccupied stations East West
D357/JC068 Fluorescence and Nutrients profiles at the reoccupied stations Data: M.Woodward
D357/JC068 Th-234 flux at 100m Th-234 flux dpm/m2/day AMT14 CRUISE D357 D357 reoc JC068 AMT14 AMT14 subs AMT14 AMT14 *AMT14 data from Thomalla et al 2006
Cruise AMT14 subs AMT14 D357 r D357 JC068 ug/L
Cruise AMT14 subs AMT14 D357 r D357 JC068 Data: M. Woodward uM
Mean POC:Th-234 @120m: 2.37±1.038 Mean PON:Th-234 @120m: 0.40±0.147 Mean PIC:Th-234 @120m: 0.39±0.134 Mean BSi:Th-234 @120m: 0.035±0.024
Summary • Variations in depth-integrated Th-234 fluxes (D357 and JC068) and particle fluxes (D357) were observed along 40S transect • Depth-integrated Th-234 fluxes along 40S were significantly higher than the Th-234 fluxes measured to the North of the transect (in oligotrophic S. Atllantic (data from Thomalla et. al. 2006) ) • Lutz et. al. 2007 carbon export model in the southern ocean is realistic • Th-234-derived depth-integrated particle fluxes at 120m during D357 decreased away from the African shore westwards. • Temporal variations in depth-integrated Th-234 fluxes were observed at the reoccupied stations • Elemental measurements of the JC068 data have to be completed and data thoroughly analyzed to identify the processes responsible for the observed spatial and temporal variations
Future work. Analytical procedures • Measure POC, PON, BSi, PIC content of the SAPS samples (end of October 2012) • Complete counting of 234Th background activity (mid-November, 2012) • Measure MnO2 precipitation efficiency: purify 230Th via anion-exchange chromatography andmeasure229Th : 230Th ratio on ICP-MS (November-December, 2012)
Future work. D357/JC068 Data Analysis • Calculate vertical 234Th activity profiles and 234Th-derived downward biogenic and lithogenic fluxes of C, N, Si, Metals • Identify causes of spatial, temporalvariability, and variability with depth (incorporate D357 data) in particle fluxes along 40S transect • Composition of fluxes – what drives the carbon export in the area? • Compare derived carbon exports along the transect with model outputs (Lutz et al 2007)
Acknowledgements • Dr. Gideon Henderson • Dr. Walter Geibert • Dr. F.A.C. Le Moigne • NMF technicians of JC068 • Science crew of JC068 • K. Kouvaris