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Deep convection plays a key role in the circulation, thermodynamics and biogeochemical cycles in the Mediterranean Sea, considered as a hotspot of biodiversity and climate change. In the framework of the DEWEX (Dense Water Experiment) project, the seasonal cycle and annual budget of dissolved inorganic carbon in the deep convection area of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea are investigated over the period September 2012–September 2013, using a 3-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical-chemical modeling approach. We estimate that the northwestern Mediterranean Sea deep convection region was a moderate sink of CO2 for the atmosphere over the study period. The model results show the reduction of CO2 uptake during deep convection, and its increase during the abrupt spring phytoplankton bloom following the deep convection events. We highlight the dominant role of both biological and physical flows in the annual dissolved inorganic carbon budget. The upper layer of the northwestern deep convection region gained dissolved inorganic carbon through vertical physical supplies and, to a lesser extent, air-sea flux, and lost dissolved inorganic carbon through lateral transport and biological fluxes. The region, covering 2.5 % of the Mediterranean, acted as a source of dissolved inorganic carbon for the surface and intermediate water masses of the western and southern Western Mediterranean Sea and could contribute up to 10 and 20 % to the CO2 exchanges with the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Rhodes Gyre is a cyclonic persistent feature of the general circulation of the Levantine Basin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Although it is located in the most oligotrophic basin of the Mediterranean Sea, it is a relatively high primary production area due to strong winter nutrient supply associated with the formation of Levantine Intermediate Water. In this study, a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model (SYMPHONIE/Eco3M-S) was used to characterize the seasonal and interannual variability of the Rhodes Gyre’s ecosystem and to estimate an annual organic carbon budget over the 2013–2020 period. Comparisons of model outputs with satellite data and compiled in situ data from cruises and BioGeoChemical-Argo floats revealed the ability of the model to reconstruct the main seasonal and spatial biogeochemical dynamics of the Levantine Basin. The model results indicated that during the winter mixing period, phytoplankton first progressively grow sustained by nutrient supply. Then, short episodes of convection driven by heat loss and wind events, favoring nutrient injections, organic carbon export, and inducing light limitation on primary production, alternate with short episodes of phytoplankton growth. The estimate of the annual organic carbon budget indicated that the Rhodes Gyre is an autotrophic area with a positive net community production in the upper layer (0–150 m) amounting to 31.2 ± 6.9 g C m-2 year-1. Net community production in the upper layer is almost balanced over the seven-year period by physical transfers, (1) via downward export (16.8 ± 6.2 g C m-2 year-1) and (2) through lateral transport towards the surrounding regions (14.1 ± 2.1 g C m-2 year-1). The intermediate layer (150–400 m) also appears to be a source of organic carbon for the surrounding Levantine Sea (7.5 ± 2.8 g C m-2 year-1) mostly through the subduction of Levantine Intermediate Water following winter mixing. The Rhodes Gyre shows high interannual variability with enhanced prim

Understanding the impact of storms on phytoplankton dynamics is a complex and crucial issue, both on regional and global scales. Here we address this question by conducting a numerical modeling study to represent the physical forcing and phytoplankton response of an intense storm that occurred in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea in late spring 2019. This numerical study, employing the SYMPHONIE regional circulation model, covers and complements in situ observations gathered during the FUMSECK cruise. Our realistic numerical simulation unveils that the storm event triggered robust near-inertial oscillations (NIOs) in a two-layer system, spanning a 5000 km² area and persisting for a duration of 3-4 days. We demonstrate the oscillatory pattern of the NIOs vertical velocities. Notably, our modeled vertical velocities reach a maximum of 10-3 m s-1 and coincide with a substantial 1.3-fold increase in total chlorophyll concentration. These findings underline the significance of considering the vertical dynamics linked to NIOs induced by meteorological events that are projected to grow both in frequency and intensity in the context of ongoing climate change. The outcomes of this study contribute valuable insights into the intricate relationship between storms and phytoplankton, shedding light on the potential ecological consequences of future climate shifts, and emphasizing the need for more comprehensive investigations to address this complex issue effectively.

A simulation based on a hydro-sedimentary model was conducted for the period between summer 2010 and spring 2012 in the Gulf of Lion (northwestern Mediterranean Sea) to understand the spatial and temporal variability of sediment transport, erosion and deposition on the continental shelf and slope. Datasets of both simulated and observed current, temperature and suspended matter from the shelf and the Cap de Creus Canyon which is the main export route towards the continental slope, were first compared to assess the reliability of the simulation. The simulation shows the massive sediment accumulation near the Rhone River mouth (∼56 % of the inputs), the accretion along the mid-shelf mud belt, and the impact of dense shelf water cascading on sediment resuspension and erosion inside the Cap de Creus Canyon. The two studied autumn–winter periods were strongly contrasted in terms of meteorological conditions and subsequent impacts on the sediment dynamics. During the first period (2010–2011) dominated by marine storms, the shelf sediment underwent strong changes, the Rhone River sediment load accumulated in a relatively small area, stock of littoral sands moved to the inner shelf (20–40 m) while inner shelf fine particles fed the mid-shelf mud belt and the upper Cap de Creus Canyon. During the second period (2011–2012) with very little marine wind and a particularly cold winter, sediment on the shelf underwent little change except for a southwestward growth of the Rhone River prodeltaic deposit. Sediment from the southwestern end of the shelf as well as from the upper Cap de Creus Canyon was flushed toward deeper reaches by dense shelf water cascading. Cascading also had a more moderate impact in the various canyons incising the continental shelf. Our work supports the view of an unbalanced sedimentary system, with a deficit mainly over the inner shelf, whose main driver is probably the strong and fast reduction of particulate matter inputs from the Rhone River (by a fact

This study proposes new insights for the interpretation of GEOVIDE particle measurements. Potentiel resuspension sites due to internal tides (ITs) have been identified along the western Iberian shelf slope using a tidal regional model. Iberian shelf is mainly a source of lithogenic material whereas Galicia Bank is a source of biogenic matter. The potential pathways for particles from the resuspension sites toward the GEOVIDE stations are identified using IBIRYS reanalysis to infer their transport by the ocean circulation. It appears that each station is influenced by a specific pathway and mixed particles from several resuspension sites. This methodology reveals that the criticality of the bathymetry slope, commonly used to track resuspension sites from internal waves, is not sufficient to investigate ITs. An explicit resolution of ITs using a numerical tidal model is required for an exhaustive identification of the resuspension sites. Key Points Sites of high bottom tidal velocity along the Iberian continental slope were identified using a semi-realistic internal tides model Sediment resuspension was confirmed on five sites based on earlier sediment surveys and Shields criterion threshold Particle trajectories were proposed based on circulation modeling to improve the interpretation of geochemical tracers measurements Plain Language Summary Internal tides are waves with a tidal period generated when tides cross a steep slope of the sea floor. Internal tides then propagate in every stratified layer of the open ocean over hundreds to thousands of kilometers. The encounter of internal tides with underwater relief, either at the generation site or after propagation, results in high bottom friction that enhances sediment resuspension. Evidence of lithogenic particles was found at various depths during the GEOVIDE cruise, from the Iberian continental slope to thousands of kilometers away. The present study identifies the sites where internal tides are responsible for sed

The Rhodes Gyre is a cyclonic persistent feature of the general circulation of the Levantine Basin in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Although it is located in the most oligotrophic basin of the Mediterranean Sea, it is a relatively high primary production area due to strong winter nutrient supply associated with the formation of Levantine Intermediate Water. In this study, a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model (SYMPHONIE/Eco3M-S) was used to characterize the seasonal and interannual variability of the Rhodes Gyre’s ecosystem and to estimate an annual organic carbon budget over the 2013–2020 period. Comparisons of model outputs with satellite data and compiled in situ data from cruises and BioGeoChemical-Argo floats revealed the ability of the model to reconstruct the main seasonal and spatial biogeochemical dynamics of the Levantine Basin. The model results indicated that during the winter mixing period, phytoplankton first progressively grow sustained by nutrient supply. Then, short episodes of convection driven by heat loss and wind events, favoring nutrient injections, organic carbon export, and inducing light limitation on primary production, alternate with short episodes of phytoplankton growth. The estimate of the annual organic carbon budget indicated that the Rhodes Gyre is an autotrophic area with a positive net community production in the upper layer (0–150 m) amounting to 31.2 ± 6.9 g C m-2 year-1. Net community production in the upper layer is almost balanced over the seven-year period by physical transfers, (1) via downward export (16.8 ± 6.2 g C m-2 year-1) and (2) through lateral transport towards the surrounding regions (14.1 ± 2.1 g C m-2 year-1). The intermediate layer (150–400 m) also appears to be a source of organic carbon for the surrounding Levantine Sea (7.5 ± 2.8 g C m-2 year-1) mostly through the subduction of Levantine Intermediate Water following winter mixing. The Rhodes Gyre shows high interannual variability with enhanced prim

Deep convection plays a key role in the circulation, thermodynamics and biogeochemical cycles in the Mediterranean Sea, considered as a hotspot of biodiversity and climate change. In the framework of the DEWEX (Dense Water Experiment) project, the seasonal cycle and annual budget of dissolved inorganic carbon in the deep convection area of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea are investigated over the period September 2012–September 2013, using a 3-dimensional coupled physical-biogeochemical-chemical modeling approach. We estimate that the northwestern Mediterranean Sea deep convection region was a moderate sink of CO2 for the atmosphere over the study period. The model results show the reduction of CO2 uptake during deep convection, and its increase during the abrupt spring phytoplankton bloom following the deep convection events. We highlight the dominant role of both biological and physical flows in the annual dissolved inorganic carbon budget. The upper layer of the northwestern deep convection region gained dissolved inorganic carbon through vertical physical supplies and, to a lesser extent, air-sea flux, and lost dissolved inorganic carbon through lateral transport and biological fluxes. The region, covering 2.5 % of the Mediterranean, acted as a source of dissolved inorganic carbon for the surface and intermediate water masses of the western and southern Western Mediterranean Sea and could contribute up to 10 and 20 % to the CO2 exchanges with the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The South Vietnam Upwelling (SVU) develops in the South China Sea off the Vietnamese coast under the influence of southwest monsoon winds. A very high resolution configuration (1 km at the coast) of the SYMPHONIE model was developed over the western coastal region of the South China Sea. A simulation was performed over the period 2009–2018 to study the functioning, variability and influence of oceanic circulation and hydrology in the coastal region, in particular of the SVU. The realism of the simulation in terms of representation of ocean dynamics and water masses, from daily to interannual and coastal to regional scales, is assessed here in detail by comparison with available satellite data and 4 sets of in-situ observations. The interannual variability of the SVU is examined for its 4 main development areas: the southern (SCU) and northern (NCU) coasts, the offshore area (OFU), and the Sunda Shelf area off the Mekong Delta (MKU). For the SCU and OFU, our results confirm the driving role of the summer mean wind and the summer circulation over the offshore area in the interannual variability of the upwelling intensity. They moreover reveal the impact of the spatial and temporal organization of mesoscale ocean structures and high frequency atmospheric forcing. For the NCU, the upwelling interannual variability does not seem to be related to regional scale forcing and dynamics, but is mainly determined by coastal mesoscale structures and circulation: similar summer wind conditions can be associated with very contrasting NCU intensities, and vice versa, depending on the circulation in the NCU area. Finally, our study reveals that upwelling also develops off the Mekong Delta, with an interannual variability mostly determined by the summer wind and the wind-driven circulation over the SVU region.