Biogenic Particle Fluxes Measured Using Sediment Traps 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 biogenic particle fluxes. Six
traps were deployed from April 4 until April 17, 1989. At 34N 21W,
traps were deployed at 1000m, 2000m and 4500m. At 48N 21W, traps were
deployed at 1000m, 2000m and 3700m. The following parameters were
measured: mass particulate flux (for grain sizes less than 1mm and
greater than 1mm), total carbonate flux, calcium in carbonate flux,
particulate inorganic carbon flux, particulate organic carbon flux,
particulate organic nitrogen flux, total silicate flux, particulate
silicate flux, dissolved silicate flux, silica flux in opal, total
phosphorus flux, particulate phosphorus flux, and dissolved phosphorus
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.]