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Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly falls

Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly falls
Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly falls
We explore the attenuation in the export ratio of jelly-POM (particulate organic matter) with depth as a function of the decay rate, temperature, and sedimentation rate. Using data from the Vertical Transport In the Global Ocean project, we compare ratios computed with the Martin-curve, with a particle-based parameterization, and with sediment-trap data. Owing to the temperature dependence of the decay rate (Q10 5 4.28), the jelly-POM export ratio below 500m is 20–45% larger in subpolar and temperate areas than in the tropics. Vertical migration of gelatinous zooplankton leads to a variable starting depth of a jelly fall (death depth), which governs the start of remineralization, and the fate of the biomass. Owing to the absence of observations, we employ a sinking speed matrix ranging from 100 m d21 to 1500 m d21 to represent slow- and fast-sinking carcasses. The assumption of a constant decay rate k independent of temperature in other particle-based models may not be appropriate. These results provide information for including jelly-POM in global biogeochemical model formulations.
0024-3590
1917-1928
Lebrato, Mario
0c14d20e-c641-4a61-8ba2-b6377cdf1777
Pahlow, Markus
f7fb3a02-708c-403a-8ced-1cab89ea00f5
Oschlies, Andreas
75e18f55-3134-44a2-82ba-71334397727f
Pitt, Kylie A.
5aa1bb5c-3ee9-4b32-b27f-1f3373989148
Jones, Daniel O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Molinero, Juan Carlos
c1535d85-7a43-4438-8da6-f58d896b7806
Condon, Robert. H.
92ef054b-68dc-438d-a785-53f8bcde55d4
Lebrato, Mario
0c14d20e-c641-4a61-8ba2-b6377cdf1777
Pahlow, Markus
f7fb3a02-708c-403a-8ced-1cab89ea00f5
Oschlies, Andreas
75e18f55-3134-44a2-82ba-71334397727f
Pitt, Kylie A.
5aa1bb5c-3ee9-4b32-b27f-1f3373989148
Jones, Daniel O.B.
44fc07b3-5fb7-4bf5-9cec-78c78022613a
Molinero, Juan Carlos
c1535d85-7a43-4438-8da6-f58d896b7806
Condon, Robert. H.
92ef054b-68dc-438d-a785-53f8bcde55d4

Lebrato, Mario, Pahlow, Markus, Oschlies, Andreas, Pitt, Kylie A., Jones, Daniel O.B., Molinero, Juan Carlos and Condon, Robert. H. (2011) Depth attenuation of organic matter export associated with jelly falls. Limnology and Oceanography, 56 (5), 1917-1928. (doi:10.4319/lo.2011.56.5.1917).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We explore the attenuation in the export ratio of jelly-POM (particulate organic matter) with depth as a function of the decay rate, temperature, and sedimentation rate. Using data from the Vertical Transport In the Global Ocean project, we compare ratios computed with the Martin-curve, with a particle-based parameterization, and with sediment-trap data. Owing to the temperature dependence of the decay rate (Q10 5 4.28), the jelly-POM export ratio below 500m is 20–45% larger in subpolar and temperate areas than in the tropics. Vertical migration of gelatinous zooplankton leads to a variable starting depth of a jelly fall (death depth), which governs the start of remineralization, and the fate of the biomass. Owing to the absence of observations, we employ a sinking speed matrix ranging from 100 m d21 to 1500 m d21 to represent slow- and fast-sinking carcasses. The assumption of a constant decay rate k independent of temperature in other particle-based models may not be appropriate. These results provide information for including jelly-POM in global biogeochemical model formulations.

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Published date: 2011
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

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Local EPrints ID: 197475
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/197475
ISSN: 0024-3590
PURE UUID: 56813a3c-5b89-49eb-87c9-4a5c8bfd4527

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Date deposited: 23 Sep 2011 12:12
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:11

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Contributors

Author: Mario Lebrato
Author: Markus Pahlow
Author: Andreas Oschlies
Author: Kylie A. Pitt
Author: Daniel O.B. Jones
Author: Juan Carlos Molinero
Author: Robert. H. Condon

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