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Understanding the influence of anthropogenic forcing on the marine biosphere is a high priority. Climate change-driven trends need to be accurately assessed and detected in a timely manner. As part of the effort towards detection of long-term trends, a network of ocean observatories and time series stations provide high quality data for a number of key parameters, such as pH, oxygen concentration or primary production (PP). Here, we use an ensemble of global coupled climate models to assess the temporal and spatial scales over which observations of eight biogeochemically relevant variables must be made to robustly detect a long-term trend. We find that, as a global average, continuous time series are required for between 14 ( pH) and 32 (PP) years to distinguish a climate change trend from natural variability. Regional differences are extensive, with low latitudes and the Arctic generally needing shorter time series (<~30 years) to detect trends than other areas. In addition, we quantify the 'footprint' of existing and planned time series stations, that is the area over which a station is representative of a broader region. Footprints are generally largest for pH and sea surface temperature, but nevertheless the existing network of observatories only represents 9-15% of the global ocean surface. Our results present a quantitative framework for assessing the adequacy of current and future ocean observing networks for detection and monitoring of climate change-driven responses in the marine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A closed eddy core in the Subantarctic Atlantic Ocean was fertilized twice with two tons of iron (as FeSO4), and the 300 km2 fertilized patch was studied for 39 days to test whether fertilization enhances downward particle flux into the deep ocean. Chlorophyll a and primary productivity doubled after fertilization, and photosynthetic quantum yield ( FV/ FM) increased from 0.33 to ≥0.40. Silicic acid (<2 µmol L−1) limited diatoms, which contributed <10% of phytoplankton biomass. Copepods exerted high grazing pressure. This is the first study of particle flux out of an artificially fertilized bloom with very low diatom biomass. Net community production (NCP) inside the patch, estimated from O2:Ar ratios, averaged 21 mmol POC m−2 d−1, probably ±20%. 234Th profiles implied constant export of ~6.3 mmol POC m−2 d−1 in the patch, similar to unfertilized waters. The difference between NCP and 234Th-derived export partly accumulated in the mixed layer and was partly remineralized between the mixed layer and 100 m. Neutrally buoyant sediment traps at 200 and 450 m inside and outside the patch caught mostly <1.1 mmol POC m−2 d−1, predominantly of fecal origin; flux did not increase upon fertilization. Our data thus indicate intense flux attenuation between 100 and 200 m, and probably between the mixed layer and 100 m. We attribute the lack of fertilization-induced export to silicon limitation of diatoms and reprocessing of sinking particles by detritus feeders. Our data are consistent with the view that nitrate-rich but silicate-deficient waters are not poised for enhanced particle export upon iron addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a major mode of variability in the North Atlantic, dominating atmospheric and oceanic conditions. Here, we examine the phytoplankton community-structure response to the NAO using the Continuous Plankton Recorder data set. In the Northeast Atlantic, in the transition region between the gyres, variability in the relative influence of subpolar or subtropical-like conditions is reflected in the physical environment. During positive NAO periods, the region experiences subpolar-like conditions, with strong wind stress and deep mixed layers. In contrast, during negative NAO periods, the region shifts toward more subtropical-like conditions. Diatoms dominate the phytoplankton community in positive NAO periods, whereas in negative NAO periods, dinoflagellates outcompete diatoms. The implications for interannual variability in deep ocean carbon flux are examined using data from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain time-series station. Contrary to expectations, carbon flux to 3000 m is enhanced when diatoms are outcompeted by other phytoplankton functional types. Additionally, highest carbon fluxes were not associated with an increase in biomineral content, which implies that ballasting is not playing a dominant role in controlling the flux of material to the deep ocean in this region. In transition zones between gyre systems, phytoplankton populations can change in response to forcing induced by opposing NAO phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of iron to high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions induces phytoplankton blooms that take up carbon. Carbon export from the surface layer and, in particular, the ability of the ocean and sediments to sequester carbon for many years remains, however, poorly quantified. Here we report data from the CROZEX experiment in the Southern Ocean, which was conducted to test the hypothesis that the observed north–south gradient in phytoplankton concentrations in the vicinity of the Crozet Islands is induced by natural iron fertilization that results in enhanced organic carbon flux to the deep ocean. We report annual particulate carbon fluxes out of the surface layer, at three kilometres below the ocean surface and to the ocean floor. We find that carbon fluxes from a highly productive, naturally iron-fertilized region of the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean are two to three times larger than the carbon fluxes from an adjacent high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll area not fertilized by iron. Our findings support the hypothesis that increased iron supply to the glacial sub-Antarctic may have directly enhanced carbon export to the deep ocean. The CROZEX sequestration efficiency (the amount of carbon sequestered below the depth of winter mixing for a given iron supply) of 8,600 mol mol-1 was 18 times greater than that of a phytoplankton bloom induced artificially by adding iron, but 77 times smaller than that of another bloom initiated, like CROZEX, by a natural supply of iron. Large losses of purposefully added iron can explain the lower efficiency of the induced bloom6. The discrepancy between the blooms naturally supplied with iron may result in part from an underestimate of horizontal iron supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During the austral summer of 2004–2005, a large multi-disciplinary research cruise investigated the development and fate of a naturally iron-fertilised phytoplankton bloom in the Southern Ocean (Crozet Plateau). As part of this extensive process study, a neutrally buoyant sediment trap (PELAGRA) was deployed to constrain the magnitude, composition, and variability of upper-ocean particle export. In the productive regime north of the plateau we observed depth-normalised (100-m) organic carbon fluxes between 11 and 440mgCm−2 d−1, and in the HNLC control region to the south similarly normalised fluxes between 28 and 46mgCm−2 d−1. Mass balance calculations indicate that the high levels of carbon export north of the plateau would need to be maintained for at least 30 days in order to account for estimated seasonal depletion of dissolved silicic acid in surface waters. This would imply that the flux of organic carbon is ≈15gCm−2 for the period of the bloom north of the plateau. A range of export ratios (proportion of surface production lost to downward flux) was calculated using both contemporaneous and retrospective estimates of integrated production, and these highlight the temporal decoupling between production and export. Calculated export ratios were at their highest north of the plateau and correlate strongly with the selective export of large, heavily silicified diatoms, particularly Eucampia antarctica, relative to the surface community structure. By normalising the molar elemental ratios measured in the exported particles to the molar elemental ratios of the upper-ocean particle field we also observed a strong decoupling of Si:C and Si:N. This suggests that the decoupling of the global silica and carbon cycles, which is well known as a defining feature of the Southern Ocean, has its origins in the upper ocean. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses Ocean Iron Fertilization (OIF) as a tool in mitigating the rising atmospheric carbon dioxide. The process involves the stimulation of net phytoplankton growth by releasing iron to certain parts of the surface ocean. OIF has been studied for years by the International Oceanographic Community for the improvement of people's understanding to the role of iron in regulating ocean ecosystems and carbon dynamics. Despite the uncertainty in the efficacy of OIF, private organizations are making plans to conduct larger-scale iron releases to generate carbon offsets.