Title: Contribution of hurricane-induced sediment resuspension to coastal oxygen dynamics

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [2];  [4]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. Global Aquatic Research LLC, Sodus, NY (United States)
  4. U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA (United States). Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Hurricanes passing over the ocean can mix the water column down to great depths and resuspend massive volumes of sediments on the continental shelves. Consequently, organic carbon and reduced inorganic compounds associated with these sediments can be resuspended from anaerobic portions of the seabed and re-exposed to dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water column. This process can drive DO consumption as sediments become oxidized. Previous studies have investigated the efect of hurricanes on DO in diferent coastal regions of the world, highlighting the alleviation of hypoxic conditions by extreme winds, which drive vertical mixing and re-aeration of the water column. However, the efect of hurricane-induced resuspended sediments on DO has been neglected. Here, using a diverse suite of datasets for the northern Gulf of Mexico, we fnd that in the few days after a hurricane passage, decomposition of resuspended shelf sediments consumes up to a ffth of the DO added to the bottom of the water column during vertical mixing. Despite uncertainty in this value, we highlight the potential signifcance of this mechanism for DO dynamics. Overall, sediment resuspension likely occurs over all continental shelves afected by tropical cyclones, potentially impacting global cycles of marine DO and carbon.

Research Organization:
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USGS
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1624431
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 8; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Hurricanes Enhance Labile Carbon Export to the Deep Ocean journal September 2019