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Organic carbon in the upper layer and its sedimentation during the ice-retreat period in the Scotia-Weddell Sea, 1988

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Summary

The maximum of POC in the surface layer (200–400 μg·l−1) followed the retreating ice from end November to end December. In the upper 150 m DOC amounted to 10–20 times the POC content. Free floating sediment traps at 150 m showed a daily sedimentation of 0.6–11.6% of the standing stock of POC, 0.1–2.6% of the chlorophyll-a and 5–190% of the gross primary production. Maximum sedimentation occurred during grazing of a krill swarm, indicating the important role of krill swarms in the downward flux. Also at most other stations krill faecal strings formed a large part of the downward flux.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, NL-1790, AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands

    G. C. Cadée

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  1. G. C. Cadée
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Data presented here were collected during the European Polarstern Study (EPOS) sponsored by the European Science Foundation

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Cadée, G.C. Organic carbon in the upper layer and its sedimentation during the ice-retreat period in the Scotia-Weddell Sea, 1988. Polar Biol 12, 253–259 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238267

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238267

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