Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific

Abstract Oceanic subsurface eddies are believed to potentially impact biogeochemical cycles; however, our understanding remains limited due to sparse in situ observations. This study presents observation of an intrathermocline eddy (ITE) in the tropical western North Pacific and provides a comprehen...

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Main Authors: Zhendong Hu, Zhiyu Liu, Xin Liu, Takako Masuda, Takuhei Shiozaki, Hiroyuki Yamada, Hongyang Lin, Bangqin Huang, Ken Furuya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113616
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author Zhendong Hu
Zhiyu Liu
Xin Liu
Takako Masuda
Takuhei Shiozaki
Hiroyuki Yamada
Hongyang Lin
Bangqin Huang
Ken Furuya
author_facet Zhendong Hu
Zhiyu Liu
Xin Liu
Takako Masuda
Takuhei Shiozaki
Hiroyuki Yamada
Hongyang Lin
Bangqin Huang
Ken Furuya
author_sort Zhendong Hu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Oceanic subsurface eddies are believed to potentially impact biogeochemical cycles; however, our understanding remains limited due to sparse in situ observations. This study presents observation of an intrathermocline eddy (ITE) in the tropical western North Pacific and provides a comprehensive analysis of how ITE modulate nutrient dynamics by both diapycnal mixing and lateral transport. Pronounced upward nutrient fluxes were observed within the deep chlorophyll maximum layer due to ITE‐induced mixing. Lateral transport directly influenced nutrient concentrations through isopycnal advection and indirectly by regulating the horizontal distribution of sinking particles. The latter likely induced spatial variability in mineralization, which played a dominant role in shaping nutrient enrichment. This study advances our understanding of the biogeochemical impacts of ITE, presenting a new paradigm for their role in nutrient and carbon cycling in oligotrophic oceans.
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issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-bcdace53d2e24bcba5a65d3a42842e402025-08-20T02:56:24ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015213n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113616Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North PacificZhendong Hu0Zhiyu Liu1Xin Liu2Takako Masuda3Takuhei Shiozaki4Hiroyuki Yamada5Hongyang Lin6Bangqin Huang7Ken Furuya8State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaGraduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences the University of Tokyo Tokyo JapanGraduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences the University of Tokyo Tokyo JapanMeteorological Laboratory University of the Ryukyus Okinawa JapanState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science Xiamen University Xiamen ChinaGraduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences the University of Tokyo Tokyo JapanAbstract Oceanic subsurface eddies are believed to potentially impact biogeochemical cycles; however, our understanding remains limited due to sparse in situ observations. This study presents observation of an intrathermocline eddy (ITE) in the tropical western North Pacific and provides a comprehensive analysis of how ITE modulate nutrient dynamics by both diapycnal mixing and lateral transport. Pronounced upward nutrient fluxes were observed within the deep chlorophyll maximum layer due to ITE‐induced mixing. Lateral transport directly influenced nutrient concentrations through isopycnal advection and indirectly by regulating the horizontal distribution of sinking particles. The latter likely induced spatial variability in mineralization, which played a dominant role in shaping nutrient enrichment. This study advances our understanding of the biogeochemical impacts of ITE, presenting a new paradigm for their role in nutrient and carbon cycling in oligotrophic oceans.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113616
spellingShingle Zhendong Hu
Zhiyu Liu
Xin Liu
Takako Masuda
Takuhei Shiozaki
Hiroyuki Yamada
Hongyang Lin
Bangqin Huang
Ken Furuya
Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
Geophysical Research Letters
title Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
title_full Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
title_fullStr Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
title_full_unstemmed Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
title_short Nutrient Dynamics Modulated by Diapycnal Mixing and Particle Sinking Pathways Within an Intrathermocline Eddy in the Tropical Western North Pacific
title_sort nutrient dynamics modulated by diapycnal mixing and particle sinking pathways within an intrathermocline eddy in the tropical western north pacific
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113616
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