The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Mesoscale eddies reorganize subsurface oxygen minimum layer in the subtropical North Atlantic
ID:1019 Oral Presentation

2027-01-14 15:50 (China Standard Time)

Session: Session 39 - Leveraging BGC-Argo Observations to Advance Marine Biogeochemical Cycles and Ecosystem Dynamics

Abstract
Mesoscale eddies play a key role in regulating oceanic physical and biogeochemical environments. However, their influence on vertical oxygen distribution remains poorly constrained by observations. Using 32 years (1993–2024) of oxygen observations from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site combined with satellite-tracked eddies, we show that eddy-induced oxygen anomalies are substantially stronger in the mesopelagic than at the surface. Anticyclonic eddies deepen the oxygen minimum layer (OML) by ~100 m and reduce its thickness by ~30%, with increases of ~3–6% in mean and minimum oxygen. Cyclonic eddies induce a similar but weaker thinning, accompanied by an upward displacement of about 100 m. More than 80% of the variance is explained by isopycnal heaving, with additional contributions from biogeochemical processes. Our results underscore that both eddy types systematically alleviate low-oxygen conditions within the OML, with important implications for subsurface oxygen habitat variability.
 
Speaker
Peiya Zhang South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Author
Peiya Zhang South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027