Carbon fluxes forced by anticyclonic mesoscale eddies generated by islands at the subtropical NE Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Abstract. The carbon fluxes mediated by planktonic communities in two cyclonic eddies (CEs) and two anticyclonic eddies (AEs) at the Canary Eddy Corridor were studied and compared with the dynamics in two far-field (FF) stations located outside the eddies. We observed favorable conditions and signs for upwelling at the center of CEs and for downwelling and mixing at the centers of AEs. CEs were characterized by higher nutrients concentration and highest chlorophyll a concentration, associated with highest microphytoplankton and diatoms abundance. AEs displayed similar chlorophyll a values and nutrients concentration (except highest ammonium concentration) to those of the FF stations and were characterized by increasing abundance of picophytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria. While primary production was similar between the systems, the production of dissolved organic carbon (PDOC) was significantly higher at AEs. Phytoplankton cell mortality was lowest in CEs and we found higher cell mortality in AE than FF, despite similar chl a concentration. Environmental changes at the AEs presented significant prejudicial effects on the phytoplankton health as indicated by higher phytoplankton mortality (e.g. 60% of dead diatoms cells) and higher cell lysis rates observed at AEs than at two other systems. The adverse conditions associated to the early-stage anticyclonic systems, mainly triggered by active downwelling, resulted in higher consequent PDOC production, corresponding to forcing of the carbon flux to the dissolved pool and a weakness of the carbon pump.