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Wind-driven upwelling of iron sustains dense blooms and food webs in the eastern Weddell Gyre

Author

Listed:
  • Sebastien Moreau

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Tore Hattermann

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Laura Steur

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Hanna M. Kauko

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Heidi Ahonen

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Murat Ardelan

    (NTNU, Trondheim University)

  • Philipp Assmy

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Melissa Chierici

    (Institute of Marine Research)

  • Sebastien Descamps

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Tilman Dinter

    (Alfred Wegener Institute)

  • Tone Falkenhaug

    (Institute of Marine Research)

  • Agneta Fransson

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Eirik Grønningsæter

    (Norwegian Polar Institute
    Feltbiologen Grønningsæter)

  • Elvar H. Hallfredsson

    (Institute of Marine Research)

  • Oliver Huhn

    (University of Bremen)

  • Anais Lebrun

    (Sorbonne Université, CNRS)

  • Andrew Lowther

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

  • Nico Lübcker

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Pedro Monteiro

    (Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory, CSIR)

  • Ilka Peeken

    (Alfred Wegener Institute)

  • Alakendra Roychoudhury

    (Stellenbosch University)

  • Magdalena Różańska

    (Institute of Oceanology PAN)

  • Thomas Ryan-Keogh

    (Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory, CSIR)

  • Nicolas Sanchez

    (NTNU, Trondheim University)

  • Asmita Singh

    (Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory, CSIR
    Stellenbosch University)

  • Jan Henrik Simonsen

    (Institute of Marine Research)

  • Nadine Steiger

    (University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
    Sorbonne Université, CNRS/IRD/MNHN LOCEAN-IPSL)

  • Sandy J. Thomalla

    (Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observatory, CSIR
    University of Cape Town)

  • Andre Tonder

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Jozef M. Wiktor

    (Institute of Oceanology PAN)

  • Harald Steen

    (Norwegian Polar Institute)

Abstract

The Southern Ocean is a major sink of anthropogenic CO2 and an important foraging area for top trophic level consumers. However, iron limitation sets an upper limit to primary productivity. Here we report on a considerably dense late summer phytoplankton bloom spanning 9000 km2 in the open ocean of the eastern Weddell Gyre. Over its 2.5 months duration, the bloom accumulated up to 20 g C m−2 of organic matter, which is unusually high for Southern Ocean open waters. We show that, over 1997–2019, this open ocean bloom was likely driven by anomalies in easterly winds that push sea ice southwards and favor the upwelling of Warm Deep Water enriched in hydrothermal iron and, possibly, other iron sources. This recurring open ocean bloom likely facilitates enhanced carbon export and sustains high standing stocks of Antarctic krill, supporting feeding hot spots for marine birds and baleen whales.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastien Moreau & Tore Hattermann & Laura Steur & Hanna M. Kauko & Heidi Ahonen & Murat Ardelan & Philipp Assmy & Melissa Chierici & Sebastien Descamps & Tilman Dinter & Tone Falkenhaug & Agneta Fran, 2023. "Wind-driven upwelling of iron sustains dense blooms and food webs in the eastern Weddell Gyre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36992-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36992-1
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