Hajime Kawakami

Seasonal variability of primary production and phytoplankton biomass in the western Pacific subarctic gyre: Control by light availability within the mixed layer

A distinct seasonal variation of primary production was revealed from shipboard observations conducted from 2005 to 2013 at time series station K2 in the western Pacific subarctic gyre (WSG). The mean depth-integrated primary production was highest (569 ± 162 mg C m−2 d−1) in summer and lowest (101 ± 16 mg C m−2 d−1) in winter. Strong winter mixing enriched the mixed layer (ML) with nutrients that were not fully consumed during the remainder of the year, the result being that the WSG was a high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) region. The deep ML reduced primary production by reducing light availability in winter, whereas primary production was enhanced by strong light availability in the shallower ML as summer progressed. However, primary production was often attenuated by a reduction of light availability attributable to dense sea fog in summer. We found a significant relationship between primary production and light availability in this HNLC region. However, chlorophyll a was less variable seasonally than primary production. The highest depth-integrated chlorophyll a was observed in summer (54.6 ± 13.4 mg m−2), but chlorophyll a remained high in winter (45.3 ± 7.7 mg m−2). Reduced light availability depressed primary production, but a reduction of the chlorophyll a concentration was prevented by a relaxation of grazing in the deep ML during winter. We found that light availability exerted an important control on the seasonal variability of primary production and phytoplankton biomass in the WSG.

Surface water mixing estimated from 228Ra and 226Ra in the northwestern North Pacific.

We investigated the horizontal distributions of (228)Ra and (226)Ra in surface waters of the northwestern North Pacific Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. Ratios of (228)Ra/(226)Ra were relatively large in the Tsugaru Current (0.6-0.8) and Okhotsk Sea (0.4-0.5), and small in the Western Subarctic Gyre (<0.2) and the Oyashio (0.25-0.3). (228)Ra/(226)Ra ratios in western Subarctic Water (SAW) rose slightly upon mixing with Okhotsk Water (OKW), before becoming the Oyashio Water (OYW). Also, ratios in the OYW increased during mixing with Tsugaru Current Water (TCW). Estimating from (228)Ra/(226)Ra ratios and (226)Ra activities with a simple two-end members-mixing model, we assumed that approximately 23% of the OYW originated from the OKW and the coastal region off northern Honshu (Japan) was strongly influenced by the TCW. From a diagram of (228)Ra activities against salinity, we could roughly divide surface seawater in the study area into the five water masses, which were SAW, OYW, OKW, TCW, and Subtropical Water (STW).

Tracking the Fate of Particle Associated Fukushima Daiichi Cesium in the Ocean off Japan.

A three year time-series of particle fluxes is presented from sediment traps deployed at 500 and 1000 m at a site 115 km southeast of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Results show a high fraction of lithogenic material and mass flux peaks that do not align between the trap depths, suggesting a lateral source of sediments. Fukushima cesium-137 and cesium-134 were enhanced in flux peaks that, given variations in trap (137)Cs/(210)Pbex ratios, are characteristic of material derived from shelf and slope sediments found from <120 to >500 m. These lateral flux peaks are possibly triggered by passing typhoons. The Cs fluxes are an order of magnitude higher than were previously reported for the trap located 100 km due east of FDNPP. We attribute this large difference to the position of our trap under the southeasterly currents that carry contaminated waters and resuspended sediments away from FDNPP and into the Pacific. These higher Cs sedimentary fluxes offshore are still small relative to the inventory of Cs currently buried nearshore. Consequently, we do not expect them to effect any rapid decrease in Cs levels for the coastal sediments near FDNPP that have been linked to enhanced Cs in demersal fish.

Sinking velocity of particulate radiocesium in the northwestern North Pacific

Sinking particles (SP) were collected by time series sediment traps at two depths in the northwestern Pacific before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, and accident-derived particulate radiocesium was measured. Radiocesium (137Cs) was first detected at 500 m (4810 m) about 2 weeks (1 month) after the accident. 137Cs of SP collected over 1 year revealed that the time lag between two depths was larger than that for the first 137Cs detection (about 2 weeks). We estimated the transient sinking velocity (SV) from the cumulative temporal 137Cs flux and the time lags at the two depths. Although the SV of SP collected in very early period was large, the estimated SV of most particulate 137Cs (about 80%) was about 50 m d−1. Based on comparison of 137Cs concentration in total SP with that in SP without organic materials, we suspect that most of the 137Cs was likely incorporated into aluminosilicates.

Seasonal variability in carbon demand and flux by mesozooplankton communities at subarctic and subtropical sites in the western North Pacific Ocean

We investigated seasonal changes in carbon demand and flux by mesozooplankton communities at subtropical (S1) and subarctic sites (K2) in the western North Pacific Ocean to compare the impact of mesozooplankton communities on the carbon budget in surface and mesopelagic layers. Fecal pellet fluxes were one order higher at K2 than at S1, and seemed to be enhanced by copepod and euphausiid egestion under high chlorophyll a concentrations. The decrease in pellet volume and the lack of any substantial change in shape composition during sink suggest a decline in fecal pellet flux due to coprorhexy and coprophagy. While respiratory and excretory carbon by diel migrants at depth (i.e., active carbon flux) was similar between the two sites, the actively transported carbon exceeded sinking fecal pellets at S1. Mesozooplankton carbon demand in surface and mesopelagic layers was higher at K2 than S1, and an excess of demand to primary production and sinking POC flux was found during some seasons at K2. We propose that this demand was met by supplementary carbon sources such as feeding on protozoans and fecal pellets at the surface and carnivory of migrants at mesopelagic depths.

Comparison of carbon cycle between the western Pacific subarctic and subtropical time-series stations: highlights of the K2S1 project

A comparative study of ecosystems and biogeochemistry at time-series stations in the subarctic gyre (K2) and subtropical region (S1) of the western North Pacific Ocean (K2S1 project) was conducted between 2010 and 2013 to collect essential data about the ecosystem and biological pump in each area and to provide a baseline of information for predicting changes in biologically mediated material cycles in the future. From seasonal chemical and biological observations, general oceanographic settings were verified and annual carbon budgets at both stations were determined. Annual mean of phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity at the oligotrophic station S1 were comparable to that at the eutrophic station K2. Based on chemical/physical observations and numerical simulations, the likely “missing nutrient source” was suggested to include regeneration, meso-scale eddy driven upwelling, meteorological events, and eolian inputs in addition to winter vertical mixing. Time-series observation of carbonate chemistry revealed that ocean acidification (OA) was ongoing at both stations, and that the rate of OA was faster at S1 than at K2 although OA at K2 is more critical for calcifying organisms.