Annual cycle of offshore transport of organic matter by an upwelling filament off Cape Ghir (NW Africa)

Trabajo presentado en la ASLO Aquatic Science Metting, celebrada en Granada, España, del 22 al 27 de febrero de 2015
Bi-monthly variability (December 2008 to October 2009) of net coastal-ocean export of POC, DOC and Chlorophyll a is studied at the Cape Ghir filament. The estimated flux of excess total organic carbon ranges from 4.6 x 108 to 5 x 109 kg C y-1. Assuming these fluxes are representative of the range within a typical year, the yearly offshore transport of total organic carbon would represent at least 9% of the primary production in this area, reaching up to 57% during periods of intense upwelling. Since the Cape Ghir filament may extend hundreds of km offshore, the associated seaward flux of organic carbon would contribute to the high microbial respiration rates reported from the nearby oligotrophic open ocean region. Our results highlight the importance of considering the offshore transport channeled by filaments in regional carbon budgets, particularly in eastern boundary regions where filaments are numerous and recurrent throughout the year.