Temporal and spatial variability in the hydrothermal signature of sinking particles and sediments in the Western Tropical South Pacific Ocean

Type Article
Acceptance Date 2023-03-16 IN PRESS
Language English
Author(s) Tilliette ChloéORCID1, Gazeau FrédéricORCID1, Chavagnac ValerieORCID2, Leblond Nathalie1, Montanes Maryline1, Leblanc Karine3, Schmidt SabineORCID4, Charrière BrunoORCID5, Bhairy Nagib3, Guieu Cécile1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche, LOV, 06230, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
2 : Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, GET, CNRS, UPS, Université de Toulouse, IRD, Toulouse, France
3 : Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France.
4 : Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33600 Pessac, France
5 : Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur l'Environnement Méditerranéen (CEFREM, UMR CNRS 5110), Bât. U, Université de Perpignan, Via Domitia (UPVD), Perpignan, France
Source ESS Open Archive (Authorea, Inc.) In Press
DOI 10.22541/essoar.167898492.26733124/v1
Note This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary.
Keyword(s) biological production, composition of sinking and sedimented material, hydrothermal sources, metals, tonga volcanic arc, western tropical south pacific ocean
Abstract

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for phytoplankton, particularly diazotrophs, which are abundant in the Western Tropical South Pacific Ocean (WTSP). Their success depends on the numerous trace metals, particularly iron, released from shallow hydrothermal vents along the Tonga Arc. This study aimed to explore the impact of hydrothermal fluids on particulate trace metal concentrations and biological activity. To identify the composition of sinking particles across a wide area of the WTSP, we deployed sediment traps at various depths, both close and further west of the Tonga Arc. Seafloor sediments were cored at these deployment sites, including at a remote location in the South Pacific Gyre. The sinking particles were composed of a large amount of biological material, indicative of the high productivity of the Lau Basin. A significant portion of this material was lithogenic of hydrothermal origin, as revealed through Al-Fe-Mn tracing. The sinking material showed similar patterns between lithogenic and biogenic fractions, indicating that hydrothermal input within the photic layer triggered surface production. A hydrothermal fingerprint was suggested in the sediments due to the high sedimentation rates and the presence of large, heterogeneous, trace metal-rich particles. The presence of nearby active deep hydrothermal sources was suspected near the Lau Ridge due to the large particle size and the significant enrichment of Fe and Mn. Overall, this study revealed that deep and shallow hydrothermal sources along with submarine volcanism have a significant influence on the biogeochemical signature of particles in the Lau Basin at large spatial and temporal scales.

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Tilliette Chloé, Gazeau Frédéric, Chavagnac Valerie, Leblond Nathalie, Montanes Maryline, Leblanc Karine, Schmidt Sabine, Charrière Bruno, Bhairy Nagib, Guieu Cécile. Temporal and spatial variability in the hydrothermal signature of sinking particles and sediments in the Western Tropical South Pacific Ocean. ESS Open Archive IN PRESS. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.167898492.26733124/v1 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00829/94106/