BENTHIC STORMS IN THE ARGENTINE BASIN Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The Argentine Basin is a region of large lateral gradients and extremely high concentrations and integrated loads of particulate matter (PM) in the abyssal nepheloid layer. The region also has large lateral variations in currents and surface and abyssal eddy kinetic energy. To investigate a suggested link between PM concentrations and eddy kinetic energy, transmissometers were attached to current meters moored at 10 m above the seafloor at five sites from the Argentine continental slope (1970 m) to the central basin (5045 m) from April 1987 to March 1988. Benthic storms (periods of high PM concentrations often associated with high current velocities) were recorded at all sites. The intensity of benthic storms (based on both frequency and elevated PM concentration) increased with distance from the margin, despite frequent periods where currents exceeded the expected erosion velocity near the margin. A good correlation was found between abyssal eddy kinetic energy (AEKE) and variations in PM concentration, except at the central basin site. At that site, a three month period of very high PM concentrations occurred with only low to moderate currents. The high PM concentrations may have resulted from the rapid input of low-density, organic-rich phytodetritus from a plankton bloom in surface waters. 1993.

published proceedings

  • DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART II-TOPICAL STUDIES IN OCEANOGRAPHY

author list (cited authors)

  • RICHARDSON, M. J., WEATHERLY, G. L., & GARDNER, W. D.

citation count

  • 43

complete list of authors

  • RICHARDSON, MJ||WEATHERLY, GL||GARDNER, WD

publication date

  • January 1993