Assessment of particulate organic carbon fluxes by satellite observation and sediment trap measurements in the northern Ulleung basin of the East/Japan Sea

Abstract

Surface concentrations and vertical fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured in the northern Ulleung basin of the East/Japan Sea during November 2010 and August 2014 by using satellite observation and sediment trap experiments. Primary production rates varied from 0.58 to 2.55 g C m-2 day-1 and the vertical total mass fluxes ranged from 0.12 to 1.47 g C m-2 day-1 at 500 m depth, 0.05 to 1.00 g C m-2 day-1 at 1000 m depth and 0.12 to 1.43 g C m-2 day-1 at 2000 m depth, respectively. Based on these results, the ratio of the settling flux of POC to primary production from the euphotic zone to the deep sea is roughly estimated by 13~35%, and about 2.4~9.6% of the primary production was arrived at bottom sediments.ts. Primary production rates varied from 0.58 to 2.55 g C m-2 day-1 and the vertical total mass fluxes ranged from 0.12 to 1.47 g C m-2 day-1 at 500 m depth, 0.05 to 1.00 g C m-2 day-1 at 1000 m depth and 0.12 to 1.43 g C m-2 day-1 at 2000 m depth, respectively. Based on these results, the ratio of the settling flux of POC to primary production from the euphotic zone to the deep sea is roughly estimated by 13~35%, and about 2.4~9.6% of the primary production was arrived at bottom sediments.1