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Episodic Export of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Red Sea: Insights From Glider Observations.

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Title: Episodic Export of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Red Sea: Insights From Glider Observations.
Authors: Kheireddine, Malika1,2,3 (AUTHOR) malika.kheireddine@um6p.ma, Ouhssain, Mustapha1 (AUTHOR), Harris, Eesaa1 (AUTHOR), Costanzo, Margherita4 (AUTHOR), Xing, Xiaogang5 (AUTHOR), Kalampokis, Alkiviadis1 (AUTHOR), Nieuwenhuis, Brian O.1 (AUTHOR), Hoteit, Ibrahim2 (AUTHOR), Jones, Burton H.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans. Oct2025, Vol. 130 Issue 10, p1-18. 18p.
Subject Terms: *Oceanography, *Marine ecology, *Climate change, Colloidal carbon, Oceanographic observations, Fluid mechanics
Geographic Terms: Red Sea
Abstract: This study investigates how episodic events and sub‐mesoscale to mesoscale physical features drive particulate organic carbon (POC) export in the tropical, stratified waters of the Northern Red Sea. Episodic phytoplankton blooms, triggered nutrient upwelling, mixing, and subduction due to eddies and fronts, enhanced POC export, with fluxes ranging from −2.25 to 3.47 g POC m−2 d−1. Here, we define export as the net change in mesopelagic POC stocks, integrating biological and physical processes rather than a strict boundary flux. To minimize spatial bias introduced by glider movement through heterogeneous water masses, export rates were primarily analyzed over discrete oceanographic events. Although the average export over the full 45‐day Seaglider deployment was low (0.012 ± 0.42 g POC m−2 d−1), this value reflects integrated variability across distinct regimes and should be interpreted with caution. Negative fluxes may result from a combination of biological remineralization and the upward transport of particle‐poor water masses. Although the displacement of isopycnals suggests a role for physical processes, the relative contribution of biological versus physical mechanisms remains uncertain, highlighting the need for further investigation. Although the lack of long‐term data limits the assessment of annual carbon export rates, this study underscores the episodic and intense nature of POC export in the warm stratified waters of the Red Sea. These findings emphasize the need for high‐resolution monitoring to improve predictions of carbon cycling in tropical seas and under changing climate conditions. Plain Language Summary: The Northern Red Sea features dynamic processes such as eddies, fronts, and wind‐driven mixing that rapidly change ocean conditions. This study used advanced tools, including underwater robots (Seagliders) and satellite data, to explore how these physical processes transport organic carbon particles from the ocean's surface to deeper layers. The findings reveal that episodic events, such as swirling water from eddies, fronts, and strong winds, can transport large amounts of organic carbon into deeper waters within hours. The research highlights the complexity of organic carbon export in the Red Sea and emphasizes the need for more frequent in situ measurements and long‐term monitoring. Understanding these processes is essential for predicting how climate change might impact similar tropical and stratified marine ecosystems. Key Points: Episodic processes such as wind‐mixing, eddies, and fronts drive rapid export of particulate organic carbon (POC) in the Northern Red SeaPOC fluxes ranged from −2.25 to 3.47 g m−2 d−1, with low averages over time and space due to remineralization and water transport balanceRapid events show overlapping contributions from mixed layer, subduction, and sinking processes complicating flux attribution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Episodic Export of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Red Sea: Insights From Glider Observations.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kheireddine%2C+Malika%22">Kheireddine, Malika</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> malika.kheireddine@um6p.ma</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ouhssain%2C+Mustapha%22">Ouhssain, Mustapha</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harris%2C+Eesaa%22">Harris, Eesaa</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Costanzo%2C+Margherita%22">Costanzo, Margherita</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xing%2C+Xiaogang%22">Xing, Xiaogang</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kalampokis%2C+Alkiviadis%22">Kalampokis, Alkiviadis</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nieuwenhuis%2C+Brian+O%2E%22">Nieuwenhuis, Brian O.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hoteit%2C+Ibrahim%22">Hoteit, Ibrahim</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jones%2C+Burton+H%2E%22">Jones, Burton H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Oceans%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans</searchLink>. Oct2025, Vol. 130 Issue 10, p1-18. 18p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oceanography%22">Oceanography</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Marine+ecology%22">Marine ecology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climate+change%22">Climate change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colloidal+carbon%22">Colloidal carbon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oceanographic+observations%22">Oceanographic observations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluid+mechanics%22">Fluid mechanics</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Red+Sea%22">Red Sea</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study investigates how episodic events and sub‐mesoscale to mesoscale physical features drive particulate organic carbon (POC) export in the tropical, stratified waters of the Northern Red Sea. Episodic phytoplankton blooms, triggered nutrient upwelling, mixing, and subduction due to eddies and fronts, enhanced POC export, with fluxes ranging from −2.25 to 3.47 g POC m−2 d−1. Here, we define export as the net change in mesopelagic POC stocks, integrating biological and physical processes rather than a strict boundary flux. To minimize spatial bias introduced by glider movement through heterogeneous water masses, export rates were primarily analyzed over discrete oceanographic events. Although the average export over the full 45‐day Seaglider deployment was low (0.012 ± 0.42 g POC m−2 d−1), this value reflects integrated variability across distinct regimes and should be interpreted with caution. Negative fluxes may result from a combination of biological remineralization and the upward transport of particle‐poor water masses. Although the displacement of isopycnals suggests a role for physical processes, the relative contribution of biological versus physical mechanisms remains uncertain, highlighting the need for further investigation. Although the lack of long‐term data limits the assessment of annual carbon export rates, this study underscores the episodic and intense nature of POC export in the warm stratified waters of the Red Sea. These findings emphasize the need for high‐resolution monitoring to improve predictions of carbon cycling in tropical seas and under changing climate conditions. Plain Language Summary: The Northern Red Sea features dynamic processes such as eddies, fronts, and wind‐driven mixing that rapidly change ocean conditions. This study used advanced tools, including underwater robots (Seagliders) and satellite data, to explore how these physical processes transport organic carbon particles from the ocean's surface to deeper layers. The findings reveal that episodic events, such as swirling water from eddies, fronts, and strong winds, can transport large amounts of organic carbon into deeper waters within hours. The research highlights the complexity of organic carbon export in the Red Sea and emphasizes the need for more frequent in situ measurements and long‐term monitoring. Understanding these processes is essential for predicting how climate change might impact similar tropical and stratified marine ecosystems. Key Points: Episodic processes such as wind‐mixing, eddies, and fronts drive rapid export of particulate organic carbon (POC) in the Northern Red SeaPOC fluxes ranged from −2.25 to 3.47 g m−2 d−1, with low averages over time and space due to remineralization and water transport balanceRapid events show overlapping contributions from mixed layer, subduction, and sinking processes complicating flux attribution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Oceans is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JC022657
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Oceanography
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Marine ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Climate change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Colloidal carbon
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oceanographic observations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluid mechanics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Red Sea
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Episodic Export of Particulate Organic Carbon in the Red Sea: Insights From Glider Observations.
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              M: 10
              Text: Oct2025
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