Elevated turbulent and double-diffusive nutrient flux in the Kuroshio over the Izu Ridge and in the Kuroshio Extension

Abstract

While the Kuroshio is known to be a nutrient stream, as these nutrients are in dark subsurface layers, they are not immediately available for photosynthesis unless they are supplied to the sunlit surface layers. Recent microstructure observations have revealed that strong diapycnal mixing caused by the Kuroshio flowing over topographic features and double diffusion in the subsurface layers of the Kuroshio. However, it is still unclear how much nutrient flux can be provided by these microscale mixing processes. In this study, using an autonomous microstructure float and nutrient samplings, nutrient flux caused by the Kuroshio over the Izu Ridge, and that caused by double diffusion in the Kuroshio Extension are quantified. The nitrate diffusive flux is estimated to be >1mmolNm−2day−1 over a distance, 20–30 km near the Izu Ridge and >0.1mmolNm−2day−1, which persists further downstream direction over 100 km along the Kuroshio, increasing the subsurface chlorophyll-a concentration in the region 200 km downstream. The double-diffusion-induced nitrate flux is estimated to be 1-10mmolNm−2day−1 in the pycnostad 26–26.5kgm−3 of the Kuroshio Extension, suggesting that whether this double-diffusion-induced nutrient flux in the subsurface layers can ultimately contribute to surface primary production depends on additional eddy up- and northward fluxes.

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