• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.395-400
• /
• 2001

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99 % of total mass fluxes were observed during the austral summer and fall (January, February, and March). The annual total mass flux was $49.2g\;m^{-2}$. Biogenic materials including biogenic silica, organic matter, and carbonate accounted for about 67% of total particle flux, and lithogenic materials contributed about 29%. Biogenic silica was the most dominant (42% of the total flux) in these components. The next most important biogenic component was organic matter, comprising 24% of total mass flux. Calcium carbonate contributed a small fraction of total mass flux, only 0.6%. The annual organic carbon flux was $5.2g\;C\;m^{-2}$ at 1,034m water depth. The annual primary production was estimated to be $21.6g\;C\;m^{-2}$ at the sediment trap site, which seems to be highly underestimated. About 5.5% of the surface water production of organic carbon sinks below 1,034m water depth.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 1999

The effect of the relative abundances of planktonic foraminifera juveniles on the climatic and oceanographic history interpretations is documented for the first time (as far as we know) by use of the year-long time-series sediment trap samples. Statistical correlation analysis suggests that many climatic and oceanographic variables such as sinking flux (total number) of planktonic foraminifera, relative abundance of some climatic indicator species G. bulloides and N. dutertrei, temperature, and salinity do not show any significant correlations with the relative abundance of planktonic foraminifera juveniles. However, planktonic foraminifera juveniles show moderate correlations with species diversity indices (species richness, Shannon-Wiener index, and Equitability). These indicate that the juveniles do not affect the relative abundances(%) of species compositions but affect the species diversity indices. Based on this one-year trap result, special care is required when we use species diversity indices for the interpretations of paleoceanography when the juveniles are excluded from total planktonic foraminiferal countings.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2003

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at a depth of 1034 m in the eastern Bransfield Strait from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. Particle fluxes showed large seasonal variation; about 99% of the annual total mass flux (49 g m/sup -2/) was collected during the austral summer and fall (January-March). Settling particles consisted primarily of biogenic silica, organic carbon, calcium carbonate, and lithogenic material. Biogenic silica and lithogenic material predominated settling particles, comprising 36% and 30% of the total mass flux, respectively, followed by organic carbon, 11% and calcium carbonate, merely 0.6%. The annual organic carbon flux was 5.4 g C m/sup -2/ at 1000 m in the eastern Bransfield Strait, which is greater than the central Strait flux. The relatively lower flux of organic carbon in the central Bransfield Strait may be caused by a stronger surface current in this region. Organic carbon flux estimates in the eastern Bransfield Strait are the highest in the Southern Ocean, perhaps because of the fast sinking of fecal pellets, which leads to less decomposition of organic material in the water column. Approximately 5.8% of the organic carbon produced on the surface in the eastern Bransfield Strait is exported down to 1000 m; this percentage exceeds the maximum EF/sub 1000/ values observed in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans. The eastern Bransfield Strait appears to be the most important site of organic carbon export to the deep sea in the Southern Ocean.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.33 no.spc3
• /
• pp.385-395
• /
• 2011

Time-series sediment traps were deployed at 1,000 m water depth of the northwestern subtropical Pacific from July 2009 to June 2010, with the aim of understanding temporal and spatial variations of sinking-particle fluxes. The opening and closing of the traps was synchronized at 18-day periods for 20 events. Total mass fluxes showed distinct seasonal variations with high values for the summer-fall seasons and relatively low values for winter-spring. This seasonal variation at two stations was characterized by a distinct difference in $CaCO_3$ fluxes between the two seasons. The enhanced $CaCO_3$ flux in the summer - fall seasons might be attributed to an increased planktonic foraminiferal flux. Total mass flux at FM10 station was nearly 50% higher than that at FM1 station. The difference in $CaCO_3$ fluxes between two stations contributed nearly 70% of the difference of total mass fluxes. The $CaCO_3$ flux was a major component controlling temporal and spatial variation of sinking - particle fluxes in the western subtropical Pacific Ocean.

• Ocean Science Journal
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.167-176
• /
• 2005

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait for a complete year from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99% of total mass flux was trapped during an austral summer, showing distinct seasonal variation. Biogenic particles (biogenic opal, particulate organic carbon, and calcium carbonate) account for about two thirds of annual total mass flux $(49.2\;g\;m^{-2})$, among which biogenic opal flux is the most dominant (42% of the total flux). A positive relationship (except January) between biogenic opal and total organic carbon fluxes suggests that these two variables were coupled, due to the surface-water production (mainly diatoms). The relatively low $\delta^{13}C$ values of settling particles result from effects on C-fixation processes at low temperature and the high $CO_2$ availability to phytoplankton. The correspondingly low $\delta^{l5}N$ values are due to intense and steady input of nitrates into surface waters, reflecting an unlikely nitrate isotope fractionation by degree of surface-water production. The $\delta^{l5}N$ and $\delta^{l3}C$ values of sinking particles increased from the beginning to the end of a presumed phytoplankton bloom, except for anomalous $\delta^{l5}N$ values. Krill and the zooplankton fecal pellets, the most important carriers of sinking particles, may have contributed gradually to the increasing $\delta^{l3}C$ values towards the unproductive period through the biomodification of the $\delta^{l3}C$ values in the food web, respiring preferentially and selectively $^{12}C$ atoms. Correspondingly, the increasing $\delta^{l5}N$ values in the intermediate-water trap are likely associated with a switch in source from diatom aggregates to some remains of zooplankton, because organic matter dominated by diatom may be more liable and prone to remineralization, leading to greater isotopic alteration. In particular, the tendency for abnormally high $\delta^{l5}N$ values in February seems to be enigmatic. A specific species dominancy during the production may be suggested as a possible and speculative reason.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.41-52
• /
• 2003

Sediment trap samples were collected to find out characteristic behaviors of metals in the settling particles by using time-series sediment traps at 678m and 1678m water depths in the Bransfield Strait from December 27th, 1999 to December 26th, 2000. Total mass fluxes at the intermediate water depth (678m water depth) were high in the austral summer and low in the austral winter, whereas at the deep water depth (1678m water depth) they showed high values in both the summer and winter. Total mass fluxes were generally higher in the deep water depth than in the intermediate water depth, which indicates that a substantial amount of sediments are laterally transported by strong currents into the deep basin from the shallow water depths. Aluminium contents also showed large seasonal variations with high values in the winter and low values in the summer. On the contrary, organic carbon contents were high in the summer and low in the winter. Al contents were negatively correlated with organic carbon contents, which may be ascribed that detrital particles are diluted by organic matter produced by phytoplankton in the surface waters. Metals measured in this study exhibited three characteristic behaviors; 1) a positive correlation with Al-Ti, Fe, Mn, V, Co, and Ba, 2) a negative correlation with Al-Cd and Zn, 3) no relationship with Al-Sr, Cu, Cr, Ni. Terrestrial materials may act as a major source fer metals that are positively correlated with Al, and organic matter may be a major source for metals that are negatively correlated with Al. Enrichment factor (EF) of Fe, Mn, Ba, Vi Co, Sr, Cr, and Ni ranged from 0.5 to 1.5, whereas EF of Zn, Cu, and Cd showed much higher values than 1.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.437-445
• /
• 2014

A time-series sediment trap was operated at a water depth of 4950 m from July 2003 to May 2004 at KOMO station ($10^{\circ}30^{\prime}N$, $131^{\circ}20^{\prime}W$) in the northeastern equatorial Pacific, with the aim of understanding the temporal variation of planktonic foraminifera assemblages in response to the seasonal shift of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). A total of 22130 planktonic foraminifera specimens belonging to 30 species and 11 genera were identified, which shows a distinct seasonal variation with high values (125~288 specimens $m^{-2}day^{-1}$) in the winter to spring (December-May) and low values (16~23 specimens $m^{-2}day^{-1}$) in the fall (September-November). In addition, seasonal ecological differences of foraminifera assemblages are distinctly recognizable: omnivorous foraminifera occurred predominantly during the summer season, whereas herbivorous ones were dominant during the winter season. Such seasonal variations correspond to the seasonal shift of the ITCZ. Enhanced occurrence of herbivorous species during the winter-spring season seems a result of surface water mixing generated by the southward shift of the ITCZ. The increase in omnivorous species during the summer season may be due to the northward movement of the ITCZ caused by weakened wind speed, resulting in the intensification of water column stratification and nutrient-poor environment. A significant reduction of planktonic foraminifera specimens during the fall is attributed to heavy precipitation and reduction in light intensity.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.200-209
• /
• 2008

Particle fluxes were measured with a time-series sediment trap from July 2003 to June 2005 at the St. KOMO(KOMO; Korea Deep-Sea Environmental Study Long-Term Monitoring Station, $10^{\circ}30'N,\;131^{\circ}20'W$) in the northeastern Pacific. Total mass fluxes at a depth of 4,960 m showed distinct seasonal variations with high values in the winter(December-February) and spring(March-May) and low values in the summer(June-August) and fall(September-November). Biogenic origin fluxes also displayed distinct seasonal variations similar to total mass fluxes. Particularly, calcium carbonate fluxes in winter and spring were more than two times greater than those in summer and fall. The prominent seasonal variations of total mass and biogenic fluxes were closely related with the seasonal changes of primary production in the surface waters; in winter and spring, primary production increased due to the enhanced supply of nutrients below the surface mixed layer by strong wind and less stratification, whereas it decreased as a result of the less supply of nutrient by reduced wind speed and strong stratification in summer and fall. The seasonal variations of total mass and biogenic fluxes in this study were higher than the differences of total mass and biogenic fluxes caused by the environmental changes such as El $Ni\tilde{n}o$ and La $Ni\tilde{n}a$ events in the previous studies. In order to understand the effects of El $Ni\tilde{n}o$ and La $Ni\tilde{n}a$ on the particle flux, therefore, the seasonal variation of particle flux in the northeastern equatorial Pacific needs to be well defined.