Vertical turbulent iron flux sustains the Green Belt along the shelf break in the southeastern Bering Sea
Abstract
To evaluate the impact of vertical turbulent iron flux on the summertime biological productivity in the Bering Sea Green Belt (GB), we conducted the concurrent observations of dissolved iron (D-Fe) and turbulence along the shelf break of the southeastern Bering Sea for the first time. We show that the GB can be sustained by iron supply from iron-rich, subsurface thick layer distributed along the southeastern shelf break where the GB is located, via strong turbulent vertical mixing. The flux ratio of D-Fe and nitrate was within the range of the N/Fe uptake ratio by GB phytoplankton, suggesting this flux of nutrients can sustain GB productivity.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMOS43E1868T
- Keywords:
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- 4273 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL / Physical and biogeochemical interactions