Cited by 52Marine and coastal ecosystemsOceanographic and Atmospheric ProcessesAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

Biogeochemical impact of tropical instability waves in the equatorial Pacific

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Gorgues, T., Menkes, C., Aumont, O., Vialard, J., Dandonneau, Y., Bopp, L.·2005·Geophysical Research Letters

Abstract

Tropical Instability Waves (TIW) have been suggested to fertilize the equatorial Pacific in iron leading to enhanced ecosystem productivity. Using a coupled dynamical–biogeochemical model, we show that contrary to this suggestion, TIWs induce a decrease of iron concentration by 10% at the equator and by about 3% over the Wyrtki box [90°W–180, 5°N–5°S]. Chlorophyll decreases by 10% at the equator and 1% over the Wyrtki box. This leads to a decrease of new production up to 10% at the equator (4% over the Wyrtki box). TIW‐induced horizontal advection exports iron‐rich equatorial water to the north, but also brings iron‐depleted water to the equator leading to a net decrease in iron. Additional iron decrease is caused by TIW‐induced iron vertical diffusion. These two mechanisms are partly counter balanced by a decrease of iron biological uptake, driven by lower phytoplankton concentrations, and to a lesser extent by TIW‐induced iron vertical advection.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/2005gl024110

Cites

16 of 30 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Gorgues et al. (2005) show that the effect of TIW is to lower the chlorophyll concentration near the equator because iron loss through horizontal advection exceeds iron supply by vertical advection.

    “Gorgues et al. (2005) show that the effect of TIW is to lower the chlorophyll concentration near the equator because of the iron loss through horizontal advection exceeds iron supply by vertical advection”

    From Physical drivers of the nitrate seasonal variability in the Atlantic cold tongue (2020) · cites this paper as Gorgues et al. (2005)

  • Nitrate loss by eddy horizontal advection is consistent with iron loss associated with TIW in the equatorial Pacific.

    “Nitrate loss by eddy horizontal advection is also consistent with iron loss associated with TIW in the equatorial Pacific (Gorgues et al., 2005).”

    From Physical drivers of the nitrate seasonal variability in the Atlantic cold tongue (2020) · cites this paper as Gorgues et al., 2005

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Menkes C. E., 2005, A modelling study of the three‐dimensional heat budget of tropical instability waves in the equatorial Pacific, J. Phys. Oceanogr
  2. Toggweiler J. R., 1995, Upwelling in the Ocean: Modern Process and Ancient Records, 337

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Authors
Gorgues, T., Menkes, C., Aumont, O., Vialard, J., Dandonneau, Y., & Bopp, L.
Affiliations
  • LOCEAN Paris France
  • Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (FR)
  • Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (FR)
Venue
Geophysical Research Letters
Published
2005-12
Volume
32
Issue
24
Pages
L24615
ISSN
  • 0094-8276 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-8007
OpenAlex
W2025906715
Cited by
52
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Geophysical Research Letters (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
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 › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
Keywords
tropical instability waves, equatorial Pacific, iron limitation, iron fertilization, chlorophyll, new production, ocean biogeochemistry

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