Enhanced vertical turbulent nitrate flux in the Kuroshio across the Izu Ridge

Abstract

The first direct measurements of vertical turbulent nitrate flux, FluxNO3, were conducted in the Kuroshio across the Izu Ridge and revealed large FluxNO3 near the sill crest at the 1% light depth. This large FluxNO3 possibly enhances downstream phytoplankton growth. Extremely large FluxNO3 was also observed at 26.0–26.6 σθ between the core of the Kuroshio nutrient stream and the North Pacific Intermediate Water. We hypothesize that strong vertical mixing in the Izu Ridge draws sufficient nitrate upward from the North Pacific Intermediate Water to the nutrient stream, which eventually impacts the downstream biogeochemistry in the western North Pacific.