Éditeur(s) : Amer Geophysical Union
Résumé : In the Atlantic Ocean, the northward export of warm surface water is compensated by a southward flow of cold North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). The NADW is transported southward along the American continental margin within the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC). Some tracer and float observations have shown that part of the DWBC water flows eastward along the equator. Here we present three meridional velocity sections which give an instantaneous image of the top-to-bottom zonal circulation along the equatorial Atlantic. They reveal the presence of Equatorial Deep Jets (EDJs) between 1 degrees 30'N and 1 degrees 30'S, alternating eastward-westward currents with short vertical scale, surrounded by columns of eastward currents (the Extra Equatorial Jets or EEJs) at 2 degreesN and 2 degreesS. In addition to direct velocity measurements, tracer distributions give indications of water-mass feeding of the EDJs and EEJs by the DWBC.
Geophysical Research Letters (0094-8276) (Amer Geophysical Union), 2001-03 , Vol. 28 , N. 5 , P. 819-822

Droits : 2001 AGU
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/10369/9567.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/10369/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : To elucidate the origin of the silicic acid (DSi) anomaly observed along the 4000 isobath on the Congo margin, we have established a benthic Si mass balance and performed direct measurements of biogenic silica (bSiO(2)) dissolution in the deep waters and in the sediments. Results strongly suggest that the anomaly originates from the sediments; the intensity of DSi recycling is consistent with the degradation of organic matter, as observed from Si:O-2 ratios in the benthic fluxes compared to that ratio observed in the anomalies. Strong imbalances, observed in both the Si and C mass balances, suggest that the biogenic matter that degrades and dissolves in these sediments near 4000 m does not come from pelagic sedimentation. It is probably not coming also from the deep channel, because observations were similar in the deep channel vicinity (site D) and further south, far from its influence (site C). The composition of the sediments, with an Si:C ratio close to that observed on continental shelves, suggests that this matter is coming from downslope transport. A first estimate of the magnitude of this flux at global scale, close to 12 T mol Si yr(-1), suggests that it may be an important path for transferring Si from land to ocean.
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (0967-0645) (Elsevier), 2009-11 , Vol. 56 , N. 23 , P. 2197-2207

Droits : 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-7410.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.04.003
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/7410/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The main feature of the Congo-Angola margin in the Gulf of Guinea is the Congo (ex-Zaire) deep-sea fan composed of a submarine canyon directly connected to the Congo River, a channel and a [sediment] lobe area. During the multi-disciplinary programme called BIOZAIRE conducted by Ifremer from 2000 to 2005, two CTD-O2 sections with discrete water column samples were performed (BIOZAIRE3 cruise: 2003-2004) to study the influence of the Congo River discharges, both in the surface layer and in the deep and near-bottom layers. The surface layer water is greatly diluted with river water that has a heavy particle load. The deep layer is affected by episodic turbidity currents that flow in the deep Congo channel and reach deep areas far from the coast. Previous studies revealed deep anomalies in oxygen (deficit) and nutrient (excess) concentrations at not, vert, similar4000 m depth and assumed that they resulted from mineralisation of the particulate organic matter from the Congo River. The BIOZAIRE3 sections were designed to explore these phenomena in more detail near the Congo channel. Oxygen and nutrients were measured as well as additional parameters, including stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon and pH. For the surface layer, the effect of the Congo River was studied with reference to salinity. Deviations from the theoretical dilution of various inorganic solutes suggested the occurrence of mineralisation and consumption processes. For the deep layer, the network of CTD-O2 stations gave a more detailed description of the deep anomalies than in previous studies. From the east-west section, anomalies appeared on the bottom at 4000 m depth and became slightly shallower when they spread to the west. They were also present north and south on the bottom along the 4000 m isobath. In these deep waters, the decrease in the o13C values of dissolved inorganic carbon confirmed that the mineralisation of organic matter plays a role in generating these anomalies. The location of the origin of this deep anomaly is debated. Here, arguments are given in favour of mineralisation of the particulate organic matter input that overflows from the Congo channel at not, vert, similar4000 m depth during turbidity current events. Other authors suggest that this input comes from downslope particle transport. Anomalies of the same origin, but weaker, also occurred deeper on the Congo lobe, where the Congo channel ends, but with a significant pH decrease on the bottom which was not seen at 4000 m depth.
Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography (0967-0645) (Elsevier), 2009-11 , Vol. 56 , N. 23 , P. 2183-2196

Droits : 2009 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6737.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.04.002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6737/