Simulation of the nitrate seasonal cycle in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during 1983 and 1984

Loukos, Harilaos; Mémery, Laurent

doi:10.1029/1999jc900084

Cited by 11Marine and coastal ecosystemsOceanographic and Atmospheric ProcessesClimate variability and models

Simulation of the nitrate seasonal cycle in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during 1983 and 1984

Loukos, Harilaos, Mémery, Laurent·1999·Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans

DOI 10.1029/1999jc900084

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

We use a three‐dimensional, off‐line geochemical model to simulate the nitrate cycle in the equatorial Atlantic during the years 1983–1984 corresponding to the Français Océan et Climat dans l'Atlantique Equatorial (FOCAL) and Seasonal Response of the Equatorial Atlantic programs. After comparing our simulations with FOCAL data, we investigate interactions between equatorial circulation and biological activity on both seasonal and interannual timescales. Our results suggest that the upwelling of nitrate in the surface layer is strongly dependent on the behavior of both the nitracline and Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC). In the western basin, the equatorial upwelling partly feeds the EUC and has a low signature on surface nitrate. On the contrary, in the eastern basin, where the upwelling core and the nitracline are closer to the surface, vertical advection is the driving mechanism causing seasonal variations of nitrate concentration. Above the EUC, nitrate is transferred to the very surface by vertical diffusion, whereas the contribution by vertical advection is negligible. While slightly cold oceanic conditions prevailed in 1983, a warm anomaly produced by a decrease in trade winds and upwelling was observed in 1984. In our simulations, the significant changes in circulation do not notably alter the seasonal cycle of new production. Consequently, variations of annual primary production between 1983 and 1984 are small (9% decrease in the 2°S–2°N band) compared to the amplitude of the seasonal cycle (twofold variations). Contrary to the Pacific Ocean, where the interannual signal dominates, our results suggests that seasonal variability is the most significant large‐scale signal on primary production in the equatorial Atlantic.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/1999jc900084

Cites

52 of 53 references verified1 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

The Atlantic equatorial upwelling is a region of enhanced biological production mainly driven by nitrate supply.
“The Atlantic equatorial upwelling is a region of enhanced biological production mainly driven by nitrate supply (Voituriez and Herbland, 1977;Loukos and Mémery, 1999).”
From Physical drivers of the nitrate seasonal variability in the Atlantic cold tongue (2020) · cites this paper as Loukos and Mémery, 1999
Seasonal variations of chlorophyll in the equatorial Atlantic are primarily related to seasonal variability of nitrate input.
“In the equatorial Atlantic, the seasonal variations of chlorophyll are thought to be primarily related to seasonal variability of the nitrate input (Voituriez and Herbland, 1977;Loukos and Mémery, 1999).”
From Physical drivers of the nitrate seasonal variability in the Atlantic cold tongue (2020) · cites this paper as Loukos and Mémery, 1999

UPTAKE OF NEW AND REGENERATED FORMS OF NITROGEN IN PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY1
Dugdale, R. C., & Goering, J. J. (1967) · Limnology and Oceanography · doi:10.4319/lo.1967.12.2.0196 · Cited by 2,786 · see citing works
Particulate organic matter flux and planktonic new production in the deep ocean
Eppley, R. W., & Peterson, B. J. (1979) · Nature · doi:10.1038/282677a0 · Cited by 2,655 · see citing works
VERTEX: carbon cycling in the northeast Pacific
Martin, J. H., Knauer, G. A., Karl, D. M., & Broenkow, W. W. (1987) · Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers · doi:10.1016/0198-0149(87)90086-0 · Cited by 2,100 · see citing works
Optical modeling of the upper ocean in relation to its biogenous matter content (case I waters)
Morel, A. (1988) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc093ic09p10749 · Cited by 1,421 · see citing works
A technique for objective analysis and design of oceanographic experiments applied to MODE-73
Bretherton, F. P., Davis, R. E., & Fandry, C. B. (1976) · Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts · doi:10.1016/0011-7471(76)90001-2 · Cited by 1,229 · see citing works
HALF‐SATURATION CONSTANTS FOR UPTAKE OF NITRATE AND AMMONIUM BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON1
Eppley, R. W., Rogers, J. N., & McCarthy, J. J. (1969) · Limnology and Oceanography · doi:10.4319/lo.1969.14.6.0912 · Cited by 1,094 · see citing works
Atmospheric transport of iron and its deposition in the ocean
Duce, R. A., & Tindale, N. W. (1991) · Limnology and Oceanography · doi:10.4319/lo.1991.36.8.1715 · Cited by 1,049 · see citing works
Role of large particles in the transport of elements and organic compounds through the oceanic water column
Fowler, S. W., & Knauer, G. A. (1986) · Progress In Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0079-6611(86)90032-7 · Cited by 855 · see citing works
A simple eddy kinetic energy model for simulations of the oceanic vertical mixing: Tests at station Papa and long‐term upper ocean study site
Gaspar, P., Gregoris, Y., & Lefèvre, J. M. (1990) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc095ic09p16179 · Cited by 839 · see citing works
Global air-sea flux of CO 2 : An estimate based on measurements of sea–air pCO 2 difference
Takahashi, T., Feely, R. A., Weiss, R. F., Wanninkhof, R. H., Chipman, D. W., Sutherland, S. C., & Takahashi, T. T. (1997) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.94.16.8292 · Cited by 471 · see citing works
Generation of Mean Flows and Jets on a Beta Plane and over Topography
Vallis, G. K., & Maltrud, M. E. (1993) · Journal of Physical Oceanography · doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1993)023 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Sedimentation of biogenic matter in the deep ocean
Honjo, S., Manganini, S. J., & Cole, J. J. (1982) · Deep Sea Research Part A Oceanographic Research Papers · doi:10.1016/0198-0149(82)90079-6 · Cited by 405 · see citing works
Geochemical cycles in an ocean general circulation model. Preindustrial tracer distributions
Maier‐Reimer, E. (1993) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/93gb01355 · Cited by 399 · see citing works
Effects of plankton dynamics on seasonal carbon fluxes in an ocean general circulation model
Six, K. D., & Maier‐Reimer, E. (1996) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/96gb02561 · Cited by 361 · see citing works
A seasonal three‐dimensional ecosystem model of nitrogen cycling in the North Atlantic Euphotic Zone
Sarmiento, J. L., Slater, R. D., Fasham, M. J. R., Ducklow, H. W., Toggweiler, J. R., & Evans, G. T. (1993) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/93gb00375 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Downward transport and fate of organic matter in the ocean: Simulations with a general circulation model
Najjar, R. G., Sarmiento, J. L., & Toggweiler, J. R. (1992) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/91gb02718 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
A model of physiological adaptation in unicellular algae
Shuter, B. J. (1979) · Journal of Theoretical Biology · doi:10.1016/0022-5193(79)90189-9 · Cited by 275 · see citing works
Primary productivity and its regulation in the equatorial Pacific during and following the 1991–1992 El Niño
Barber, R. T., Sanderson, M. P., Lindley, S. T., Chai, F., Newton, J. A., Trees, C. C., Foley, D. G., & Chávez, F. P. (1996) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0967-0645(96)00035-5 · Cited by 245 · see citing works
Export flux of particulate organic carbon from the central equatorial Pacific determined using a combined drifting trap-234Th approach
Murray, J. W., Young, J. A., Newton, J. A., et al. (1996) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0967-0645(96)00036-7 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Mapping climatological seasonal variations of surface currents in the tropical Atlantic using ship drifts
Richardson, P. L., & Walsh, D. (1986) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc091ic09p10537 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
Gas exchange and CO2 flux in the tropical Atlantic Ocean determined from 222Rn and pCO2 measurements
Smethie, W., Takahashi, T., Chipman, D., & Ledwell, J. (1985) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc090ic04p07005 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Seasonal cycle of velocity in the Atlantic North Equatorial Countercurrent as measured by surface drifters, current meters, and ship drifts
Richardson, P. L., & Reverdin, G. (1987) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc092ic04p03691 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
The multidimensional positive definite advection transport algorithm: Further development and applications
Smolarkiewicz, P. K., & Clark, T. L. (1986) · Journal of Computational Physics · doi:10.1016/0021-9991(86)90270-6 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Nutrient provinces in the sea: Concentration ratios, reaction rate ratios, and ideal covariation
Fanning, K. A. (1992) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/92jc00007 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
New production along 140°W in the equatorial Pacific during and following the 1992 El Niño event
McCarthy, J., Garside, C., Nevins, J. L., & Barber, R. (1996) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0967-0645(96)00022-7 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Unusual conditions in the tropical Atlantic Ocean in 1984
Philander, S. G. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322236a0 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Dissolved organic carbon in modeling oceanic new production
Bacastow, R. B., & Maier‐Reimer, E. (1991) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/91gb00015 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Origin and maintenance of a high nitrate condition in the equatorial Pacific
Chai, F., Lindley, S., & Barber, R. (1996) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0967-0645(96)00029-x · Cited by 126 · see citing works
CO2 fluxes in the tropical Atlantic during FOCAL cruises
Andrié, C., Oudot, C., Genthon, C., & Merlivat, L. (1986) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc091ic10p11741 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Dissolved organic carbon in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean
Thomas, C., Gustave Cauwet, A., & Minster, J. (1995) · Marine Chemistry · doi:10.1016/0304-4203(94)00061-h · Cited by 91 · see citing works
ANNUAL SIGNAL AND INTERANNUAL ANOMALIES OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN THE EASTERN EQUATORIAL ATLANTIC OCEAN
Merle, J., Fieux, M., & Hisard, P. (1980) · Oceanography and Surface Layer Meteorology in the B/C Scale · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4832-8366-1.50023-6 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Longwaves and primary productivity variations in the equatorial pacific at 0°, 140dgW
Foley, D., Dickey, T., McPhaden, M., Bidigare, R., Lewis, M., Barber, R., Lindley, S., Garside, C., Manovt, D. V., & McNeil, J. (1997) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(97)00080-5 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Interannual variability in the tropical Atlantic
Lamb, P., Peppler, R. A., & HASTENRATH, S. L. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322238a0 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Atmospheric conditions in the Atlantic sector during 1983 and 1984
Horel, J. D., Kousky, V. E., & Kagano, M. T. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322248a0 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Seasonal response of the sea surface to the wind in the equatorial Atlantic
Katz, E. J. (1987) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc092ic02p01885 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Seasonal phytoplankton dynamics in the eastern tropical Atlantic
Monger, B., McClain, C., & Murtugudde, R. (1997) · Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans · doi:10.1029/96jc03982 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Annual change of sea surface slope along the Equator of the Atlantic Ocean in 1983 and 1984
Katz, E. J., Hisard, P., Verstraete, J., & Garzoli, S. L. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322245a0 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Isopycnal and diapycnal circulation of the upper equatorial Atlantic Ocean in 1983–1984
Gouriou, Y., & Reverdin, G. (1992) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/91jc02935 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Equatorial Atlantic Ocean temperature and current variations during 1983 and 1984
Weisberg, R. H., & Colin, C. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322240a0 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Oceanic conditions in the tropical Atlantic during 1983 and 1984
Hisard, P., Hénin, C., Houghton, R. W., et al. (1986) · Nature · doi:10.1038/322243a0 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Dynamical regimes of a fully nonlinear stratified model of the Atlantic equatorial undercurrent
Wacongne, S. (1989) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc094ic04p04801 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Response of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean to the 1983–1984 wind from the Programme Français Océan et Climat Dans l'Atlantique equatorial cruise data set
Hisard, P., & Hénin, C. (1987) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc092ic04p03759 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
A meeting place of great ocean currents: shipboard observations of a convergent front at 2°N in the Pacific
Archer, D. E., Aiken, J., Balch, W. M., et al. (1997) · Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/s0967-0645(97)00031-3 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Iron fertilization of the austral ocean—The Hamburg Model Assessment
Kurz, K. D., & Maier‐Reimer, E. (1993) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/92gb02910 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
The near surface tropical Atlantic in 1982–1984: Results from a numerical simulation and a data analysis
Reverdin, G., Delécluse, P., Lévy, C., et al. (1991) · Progress In Oceanography · doi:10.1016/0079-6611(91)90027-j · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Thermal structure along 4°W in the Gulf of Guinea during 1983–1984
Houghton, R. W., & Colin, C. (1986) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc091ic10p11727 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
The influence of the spring phytoplankton bloom on carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations in the surface waters of the northeast Atlantic during 1989
Taylor, A. H., Watson, A. J., & Robertson, J. E. (1992) · Deep Sea Research Part A Oceanographic Research Papers · doi:10.1016/0198-0149(92)90101-x · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Influence of local and remote wind forcing in the Gulf of Guinea
Houghton, R. W. (1989) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc094ic04p04816 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Interannual variability versus seasonal variability in the Tropical Atlantic
Picaut, J., Servain, J., Busalacchi, A. J., & Seva, M. (1984) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/gl011i008p00787 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
In situ wind measurements and the ocean response in the equatorial Atlantic during the Programme Francais Ocean et Climat Dans l'Atlantique Equatorial and Seasonal Response of the Atlantic Ocean Experiment
Colin, C., & Garzoli, S. L. (1987) · Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres · doi:10.1029/jc092ic04p03741 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Surface Equatorial Current System along 23° W (July 1982‐January 1984)
Hénin, C., & Hisard, P. (1984) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/gl011i008p00765 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Untitled work
(1980) · doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1980)010
Untitled work
(1983) · doi:10.1175/1520-0485(1983)013

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 14

Anderson L. The determination of Redfield ratios for use in global oceanic nutrient cycle models Ph.D. thesis Princeton Univ. Princeton N. J. 1993.
Andrich P. P.Delecluse P.Levy G.Madec A multi‐tasked general circulation model of the ocean Science and Engineering on Cray Supercomputers Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium 407–428Cray Research Inc. Minneapolis Minnesota 1988.
Blanke B. Couche de mélange dans un modéle tropical de circulation océanique Ph.D. thesis Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 1992.
Chavez F. P., 1995, Upwelling in the Ocean: Modern Processes and Ancient Records, 149
Chavez F. P., 1995, Upwelling in the Ocean: Modern Processes and Ancient Records, 149
Eppley R. W., 1981, Relations between nutrient assimilation and growth in phytoplankton with a brief review of estimates of growth rate in the ocean, Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 210, 251
Honjo S., 1978, Sedimentation of material in the Sargasso Sea at 5367m, J. Mar. Res., 36, 469
Honjo S., 1980, Material fluxes and modes of sedimentation in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones, J. Mar. Res., 38, 53
Marti O. Etude de l'ocèan mondial: Modélisation de la circulation et des traceurs anthropiques Ph.D. thesis Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 1992.
Merle J., 1980, Variabilité thermique annuelle et interannuelle de locéan Atlantique équatorial Est, lhypothèse dun El Niño Atlantique, Oceanol. Acta, 3, 209
10.1175/1520-0485(1983)013<0018:POTSUI>2.0.CO;2 · DOI
Toggweiler J. R., 1995, Upwelling in the Ocean: Modern Processes and Ancient Records, 337
Voituriez B., 1983, Océanographie Tropicale, 163
Voituriez B., 1983, Océanographie Tropicale, 185

Sorted by citations

Tropical Atlantic variability in a coupled physical–biogeochemical ocean model
Christian, J. R., & Murtugudde, R. (2003) · Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography · doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2003.07.005 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Physical drivers of the nitrate seasonal variability in the Atlantic cold tongue
Radenac, M.-H., Jouanno, J., Tchamabi, C. C., Awo, M., Bourlès, B., Arnault, S., & Aumont, O. (2020) · Biogeosciences · doi:10.5194/bg-17-529-2020 · Cited by 33 · see citing works

Authors: Loukos, H., & Mémery, L.
Venue: Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Published: 1999-07-15
Volume: 104
Issue: C7
Pages: 15549-15573
ISSN: 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1029/1999jc900084
OpenAlex: W1975299795
Cited by: 11
References: 53
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 1
FWCI: 1.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Marine and coastal ecosystems
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Oceanography › Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate variability and models
Keywords: equatorial Atlantic, Equatorial Undercurrent, nitracline, equatorial upwelling, vertical advection, vertical diffusion, primary production, new production, interannual variability, ocean biogeochemistry, FOCAL

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Simulation of the nitrate seasonal cycle in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean during 1983 and 1984

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Record

About these checks