Spatial and temporal variation of net community production and its regulating factors in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

We observed ΔO2/Ar in the surface waters of the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica, during the austral summers in 2011 and 2012 to investigate the variability of net community production (NCP). Corresponding to the typical peak phytoplankton bloom period, the ΔO2/Ar of the Amundsen Sea Polynya (ASP) reached 30% in early January 2011 and had a strong positive correlation with the sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a). In contrast, ΔO2/Ar decreased to −10% in the sea ice zone (SIZ), which was likely associated with either net O2 consumption in the unlit area or the entrainment of deep water containing low dissolved oxygen. Near the terminal stage of the phytoplankton bloom in late February 2012, we observed the same contrasting ΔO2/Ar features between the ASP and SIZ. However, the ΔO2/Ar in the ASP was not >10%, which corresponded with the overall reduction in Chl-a, solar radiation, and SST compared with the corresponding values in 2011. The average net community production in the ASP was 119 ± 79 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 in January 2011, and 23 ± 14 mmol O2 m−2 d−1 in February 2012. The strong correlations of NCP with SST and mixed layer depth (MLD) indicate that the ASP phytoplankton bloom is likely initiated by a combination of increased light availability and SST in early summer. Low SST and variable fluorescence to maximum florescence ratio (Fv/Fm) in February indicate that decreased solar radiation and Fe availability are likely responsible for the phytoplankton bloom demise.