Oceanic Particle Fluxes Measured Using Particle Interceptors during the JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE)

The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) seeks to understand
the processes that control the transfer of carbon and other
biologically active elements in the ocean. In addition, JGOFS
hopes to improve global-scale predictions of the ocean's response to
human-induced climate change.

The North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE) was a multidisciplinary,
multinational pilot study of JGOFS, studying the spring phytoplankton
bloom in the North Atlantic and its associated biogeochemical
processes. It took place from April until July, 1989, on two cruises
of the RV Atlantis II and one cruise of the RV Endeavor. The stations
in the North Atlantic were located from 18N to 72N and from 8W to 47W.

Sediment traps were used to determine particle fluxes. Trap A was
deployed from 24 March until 6 April, 1989, at 46.7 N 19.5 W. Trap B
was deployed from 7 April until 20 April, 1989, at 46.5 N 18.5
W. Trap C was deployed from 22 April until 1 June, 1989, at 46.3 N
17.8 W. The positions of the traps were tracked by ARGOS satellites
during the time of deployment. Data was collected for the following
depths: 150m, 300m, 500m, 750m, 1000m, 1500m and 2000m. The following
parameters were measured for each depth: total particulate flux,
calcium carbonate particulate flux, total carbon particulate flux,
particulate inorganic carbon flux, particulate organic carbon flux,
and particulate organic nitrogen flux.

The data is public domain and can be retrieved on-line at
"http://usjgofs.whoi.edu/jg/dir/jgofs/"

[This summary was derived from Oceanus vol. 35 and from the JGOFS WWW
pages at WHOI.]