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Scientific article
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English

Quantifying tidally driven benthic oxygen exchange across permeable sediments: An aquatic eddy correlation study

Contributors

McGinnis, Daniel Frank; Sommer, Stefan; Lorke, Andreas; Glud, Ronnie N.; Linke, Peter

Published in

Journal of geophysical research. Oceans, vol. 119

Publication date

2014

Abstract

Continental shelves are predominately (∼70%) covered with permeable, sandy sediments. While identified as critical sites for intense oxygen, carbon, and nutrient turnover, constituent exchange across permeable sediments remains poorly quantified. The central North Sea largely consists of permeable sediments and has been identified as increasingly at risk for developing hypoxia. Therefore, we investigate the benthic O2 exchange across the permeable North Sea sediments using a combination of in situ microprofiles, a benthic chamber, and aquatic eddy correlation. Tidal bottom currents drive the variable sediment O2 penetration depth (from ∼3 to 8 mm) and the concurrent turbulence-driven 25-fold variation in the benthic sediment O2 uptake. The O2 flux and variability were reproduced using a simple 1-D model linking the benthic turbulence to the sediment pore water exchange. The high O2 flux variability results from deeper sediment O2 penetration depths and increased O2 storage during high velocities, which is then utilized during low-flow periods. The study reveals that the benthic hydrodynamics, sediment permeability, and pore water redox oscillations are all intimately linked and crucial parameters determining the oxygen availability. These parameters must all be considered when evaluating mineralization pathways of organic matter and nutrients in permeable sediments.

Keywords

  • Eddy correlation
  • Permeable sediments
  • Benthic oxygen exchange
  • Turbulence
  • North Sea

UNIGE affiliation entities

Not a UNIGE publication

Citation (ISO format)

MCGINNIS, Daniel Frank et al. Quantifying tidally driven benthic oxygen exchange across permeable sediments: An aquatic eddy correlation study. In: Journal of geophysical research. Oceans, 2014, vol. 119. doi: 10.1002/2014JC010303

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

2169-9275
650views
885downloads

Technical informations

Creation

11/11/2014 17:12:00

First validation

11/11/2014 17:12:00

Update

14/03/2023 22:14:28

Status update

14/03/2023 22:14:28

Last indexation

30/10/2024 20:41:54
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