Temporal variability of vertical export flux at the DYFAMED time-series station (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea)

Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida (1) , Héloïse Lavigne (2) , Christophe Migon (3) , Fabrizio d'Ortenzio (3) , Claude Estournel (4) , Laurent Coppola (3) , Juan-Carlos Miquel

1 MIO - Institut méditerranéen d'océanologie
2 IRSNB - Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique
3 LOV - Laboratoire d'océanographie de Villefranche
4 LAERO - Laboratoire d'aérologie

The temporal evolution of the vertical export flux at the DYFAMED time-series station (Ligurian Sea) over the last 20 years reveals a strong interannual variability. Winter convection allows particulate (and dissolved) matter to be vertically exported (“flush-down” effect). The efficiency of this process determines also the concentration of nutrients brought to surface waters and, therefore, the intensity of the subsequent phytoplankton bloom. The sequence “convection-bloom” is the main driving force of vertical export flux in this region. The present work attempts to better identify the parameters that control vertical export flux dynamics by observing a 20 year time-series in relation with the temporal variability of mixed layer depth and surface primary production. The consequences of a more stratified water column in the future on biological productivity and vertical export flux are pointed out.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida, Héloïse Lavigne, Christophe Migon, Fabrizio d'Ortenzio, Claude Estournel, et al.. Temporal variability of vertical export flux at the DYFAMED time-series station (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Progress in Oceanography, 2013, 119, pp.59-67. ⟨10.1016/j.pocean.2013.08.005⟩. ⟨hal-02163115⟩