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FLUORESCENT DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER TRACKS FLUXES OF ORGANIC CARBON IN THE NORTH PACIFIC
Recent monitoring has revealed a high spatial and interannual variation in total organic carbon flux in the North Pacific. Evidence suggests that high concentrations of organic carbon at depth are present in the dissolved fraction and represent an active part of the microbial pump, rather than a high particulate flux driven by the biological (sinking) carbon pump. Removal rates inferred by repeated surveys in the region suggest that these sporadic high carbon events are highly labile, with high concentrations not being observed outside of the productive seasons. Samples for total and dissolved organic carbon (T/DOC) were collected along the Line P transect in the Northeast Pacific in 2023 and 2024. Ratios of DOC to TOC are used to assess the relative contribution of the microbial carbon pump to the biological carbon pump during periods of high export flux. Additional fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) samples were collected, allowing for investigation of different fractions of DOM and their contributions to organic matter fluxes at depth, as well as the role DOM plays in carbon sequestration in the deep Pacific Ocean.
Presentation Preference: Poster
Primary Presenter: Kailee Clarke, Memorial University of Newfoundland (kgclarke@mun.ca)