Primary production dynamics during the decline phase of the North Atlantic annual spring bloom

Abstract

AbstractThe second field campaign of the NASA EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) program was conducted in the late spring of 2021 within the vicinity of the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (49.0°N, 16.5°W) in the North Atlantic Ocean. Observations from EXPORTS support previous characterizations of this system as highly productive and organic matter rich, with the majority of primary production occurring in large cells (≥ 5 µm) such as diatoms that are primarily utilizing nitrate. Rates of total euphotic zone depth-integrated net primary production ranged from 36.4 to 146.6 mmol C m−2d−1, with an observational period average f-ratio of 0.74, indicating predominantly new production. Substantial variability in the contribution of small (<5 µm) and large cells occurred over the observation period, coinciding with the end of the annual spring phytoplankton bloom. Physical changes associated with storms appear to have impacted the integrated production rates substantially, enhancing rates by ∼10%. These disturbances altered the balance between contributions of the different phytoplankton size fractions, thus highlighting the important role of mixed layer variability in nutrient entrainment into the upper water column and production dynamics. In diatoms, inputs of silicic acid related to deepening of the mixed layer increased silicic acid uptake rates yet concomitant increases in NPP in large cells was not observed. This campaign serves as the high productivity endmember within the EXPORTS program and as such, elucidates how nutrient concentrations and size class play key roles in both low and high productivity systems, but in differing ways.