Seasonal export fluxes of particulate organic carbon from Th-234/U-238 disequilibrium measurements in the Ulleung Basin(1) (Tsushima Basin) of the East Sea(1) (Sea of Japan)

Abstract

Export fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) were estimated from the Th-234/U-238 disequilibrium in the Ulleung Basin(1) (UB) of the East/Japan Sea(1) (EJS) over four seasons. The fluxes were calculated by multiplying the average POC/Th-234 ratio of sinking particles larger than 0.7 mu m at 100- and 200-m water depths to Th-234 fluxes by the integrated Th-234/U-238 disequilibrium from the surface to 100-m water depth. In spring, the Th-234 profiles changed dramatically with sampling time, and hence a non-steady-state Th-234 model was used to estimate the Th-234 fluxes. The Th-234 flux estimated from the non-steady-state model was an order of magnitude higher than that estimated from the steady-state model. The Th-234 fluxes estimated using the steady-state model showed distinct seasonal variation, with high values in summer and winter and low values in autumn. In spring, the phytoplankton biomass had the highest value, and primary production was higher than in summer and autumn, but the Th-234 fluxes were moderate. However, these values might have been significantly underestimated, as the Th-234 fluxes were estimated using the steady-state model. The POC export fluxes estimated in autumn were about four times lower than those in other seasons when they were rather similar. The annually averaged POC flux was estimated to be 161 +/- A 76 mgC m(-2) day(-1), which was somewhat lower than that in highly productive coastal areas, and higher than that in oligotrophic regions. The export/primary production (ThE) ratios ranged from 7.0 to 56.1%, with higher values in spring and summer and lower values in autumn and winter. In summer, a high ThE ratio of 48.4 +/- A 7.0% was measured. This may be attributed to the mass diatom sinking event following nitrate depletion. In the UB1, the annually averaged ThE ratio was estimated to be 34.4 +/- A 12.9%, much higher than that in oligotrophic oceans. The high ThE ratio may have contributed to the high organic carbon accumulation in the UB1.