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The oceanic phosphorus cycle describes how phosphorus moves through the ocean, accumulates with the sediments on the seafloor, and participates in biogeochemical reactions. We propose a new two-reservoir scenario of the glacial–interglacial phosphorus cycle. It relies on diagenesis in methane hydrate-bearing sediments to mobilize sedimentary phosphorus and transfer it to the oceanic reservoir during times when falling sea level lowers the hydrostatic pressure on the seafloor and destabilizes methane hydrates. The stock of solid phase phosphorus mobilizable by this process is of the same order of magnitude as the dissolved phosphate inventory of the current oceanic reservoir. The potential additional flux of phosphate during the glacial period is of the same order of magnitude as pre-agricultural, riverine dissolved phosphate fluxes to the ocean. Throughout the cycle, primary production assimilates phosphorus and inorganic carbon into biomass, which, upon settling and burial, returns phosphorus to the sedimentary reservoir. Primary production also lowers the partial pressure of CO2 in the surface ocean, potentially drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere. Concurrent with this slow "biological pump", but operating in the opposite direction, a "physical pump" brings metabolic CO2 -enriched waters from deep-ocean basins to the upper ocean. The two pumps compete, but the direction of the CO2 flux at the air–sea interface depends on the nutrient content of the deep waters. Because of the transfer of reactive phosphorus to the sedimentary reservoir throughout a glaciation cycle, low-phosphorus and high- CO2 deep waters reign at the beginning of a deglaciation, resulting in rapid transfer of CO2 to the atmosphere. The new scenario provides another element to the suite of processes that may have contributed to the rapid glacial–interglacial climate transitions documented in paleo-records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oceanic phosphorus cycle describes how phosphorus moves through the ocean, accumulates with the sediments on the seafloor, and participates in biogeochemical reactions. We propose a new two-reservoir scenario of the glacial-interglacial phosphorus cycle. It relies on diagenesis in methane hydrate-bearing sediments to mobilize sedimentary phosphorus and transfer it to the oceanic reservoir during times when falling sea level lowers the hydrostatic pressure on the seafloor and destabilizes methane hydrates. The stock of solid phase phosphorus mobilizable by this process is of the same order of magnitude as the dissolved phosphate inventory of the current oceanic reservoir. The potential, additional flux of phosphate during the glacial period is of the same order of magnitude as pre-agricultural, riverine dissolved phosphate fluxes to the ocean. Throughout the cycle, primary production assimilates phosphorus and inorganic carbon into biomass which, upon settling and burial, returns phosphorus to the sedimentary reservoir. Primary production also lowers the partial pressure of CO2 in the surface ocean, potentially drawing down CO2 from the atmosphere. Concurrent with this slow 'biological pump', but operating in the opposite direction, a 'physical pump' brings metabolic CO2-enriched waters from deep-ocean basins to the upper ocean. The two pumps compete, but the direction of the CO2 flux at the air-sea interface depends on the nutrient content of the deep waters. Because of the transfer of reactive phosphorus to the sedimentary reservoir throughout a glaciation cycle, low phosphorus/ high CO2 deep waters reign at the beginning of a deglaciation, resulting in rapid transfer of CO2 to the atmosphere. The new scenario provides another element to the suite of processes that may have contributed to the rapid glacial-interglacial climate transitions documented in paleo-records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe the depth distribution of phosphorus in relation to the distribution of major redox species (dissolved O2, NO3 −, NH4 +, Mn, and Fe, and particulate S, organic C, reactive Mn- and Fe-oxides) in modern sediments of two stations in the Thau Lagoon. Sediments close to the oyster bank zone are enriched in organic carbon and are highly bioturbated, while those outside the bank are less bioturbated and organic carbon levels are lower. In all sites, early diagenesis follows the well-accepted depth sequence of redox reactions of organic matter mineralization. The upper sediments of the station enriched in organic carbon contain high amounts of reactive particulate organic phosphorus that arrives at the sediment surface through biodeposition. Only a part of this phosphorus is released to the bottom water after mineralization, since more than 50% of total P is buried as an authigenic phosphate mineral. In the middle of the lagoon, outside the oyster bank zone, organic matter seems to be much more refractory, but the distribution of the major redox compounds indicates that this organic matter is partially mineralized. A portion of the phosphate and ammonium released during mineralization does not escape the sediment, since the concentration gradient is close to zero between 1 and 25cm depth below the sediment–water interface. Pore water N and P are likely fixed by biological uptake. The characterisation and magnitude of this process require further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The hypothesis of nutrient-rich pore-waters seeping at low tide through sediments to channel waters, which drain tidal flats during ebb, was evaluated in the Arcachon lagoon. The back of the bay is affected by freshwater inputs and underground freshwater discharges. The upper part of tidal flat consists of permeable sandy sediments, which are covered by a muddy sediment layer on the lower part. Permeable sediments outcrop in the bed of channel web. Surface water chemistry and early diagenesis processes in sediment were estimated by collecting channel web waters and cores on a tidal flat and in channels at different seasons and time scales. Waters from tidal creeks are under-oxygenated, and enriched in reduced solutes. Muddy sediments showed evidences of strong organic matter mineralization and bioturbation. Underlying permeable sandy sediments revealed as well evidences of an enrichment of inorganic nutrients, and dilution with fresh continental groundwater. During ebb, tidal creek waters stem from mudflats by seeping of anoxic pore-waters, and from permeable sediments by advection of reduced waters. A rough estimation shows that the yearly contribution of this tidal pump of pore-waters for dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and ammonia inputs is of the same order of magnitude than river inputs for the studied part of the bay. Extrapolated to the whole Arcachon lagoon, pore-water discharge at low tide supplies to water column at least 556 kmol yr−1 and 18300 kmol yr−1 of DIP and NH4 +, respectively. Tidal drainage at low tide represents therefore a minimal contribution of recycled nutrient of 55% for DIP and 15% for dissolved inorganic nitrogen to the lagoon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]