Particle flux in the eastern Bransfield Strait in 1999, Antarctica

Abstract

A time-series sediment trap was deployed at 1,034 m water depth in the eastern Bransfield Strait from December 25, 1998 to December 24, 1999. About 99% of total mass fluxes were observed during the austral summer and fall (January, February, and March). The annual total mass flux was 49.2 g m-2. Biogenic materials including biogenic silica, organic matter, and carbonate accounted for about 67% of total particle flux, and lithogenic materials contributed about 29%. Biogenic silica was the most dominant (42% of the total flux) in these components. The next most important biogenic component was organic matter, comprising 24% of total mass flux. Calcium carbonate contributed a small fraction of total mass flux, only 0.6%. The annual organic carbon flux was 5.2 g C m-2 at 1,034 m water depth. The annual primary production was estimated to be 21.6 g C m-2 at the sediment trap site, which seems to be highly underestimated. About 5.5% of the surface water production of organic carbon sinks below 1,034 m water depth.