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New guidelines for the application of Stokes' models to the sinking velocity of marine aggregates
Citation
Laurenceau-Cornec, EC and Le Moigne, FAC and Gallinari, M and Moriceau, B and Toullec, J and Iversen, MH and Engel, A and De La Rocha, CL, New guidelines for the application of Stokes' models to the sinking velocity of marine aggregates, Limnology and Oceanography, 65, (6) pp. 1264-1285. ISSN 0024-3590 (2019) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2020 John Wiley
Abstract
Numerical simulations of ocean biogeochemical cycles need to adequately represent particle sinking velocities (SV). For decades, Stokes' Law estimating particle SV from density and size has been widely used. But while Stokes' Law holds for small, smooth, and rigid spheres settling at low Reynolds number, it fails when applied to marine aggregates complex in shape, structure, and composition. Minerals and zooplankton can alter phytoplankton aggregates in ways that change their SV, potentially improving the applicability of Stokes' models. Using rolling cylinders, we experimentally produced diatom aggregates in the presence and absence of minerals and/or microzooplankton. Minerals and to a lesser extent microzooplankton decreased aggregate size and roughness and increased their sphericity and compactness. Stokes' Law parameterized with a fractal porosity modeled adequately size‐SV relationships for mineral‐loaded aggregates. Phytoplankton‐only aggregates and those exposed to microzooplankton followed the general Navier‐Stokes drag equation suggesting an indiscernible effect of microzooplankton and a drag coefficient too complex to be calculated with a Stokes' assumption. We compared our results with a larger data set of ballasted and nonballasted marine aggregates. This confirmed that the size‐SV relationships for ballasted aggregates can be simulated by Stokes' models with an adequate fractal porosity parameterization. Given the importance of mineral ballasting in the ocean, our findings could ease biogeochemical model parameterization for a significant pool of particles in the ocean and especially in the mesopelagic zone where the particulate organic matter : mineral ratio decreases. Our results also reinforce the importance of accounting for porosity as a decisive predictor of marine aggregate SV.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Stokes models, marine aggregates, particulate matter, particle sinking velocity |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Chemical oceanography |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Marine systems and management |
Objective Field: | Oceanic processes (excl. in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean) |
UTAS Author: | Laurenceau-Cornec, EC (Mr Emmanuel Laurenceau) |
ID Code: | 139733 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 17 |
Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
Deposited On: | 2020-06-30 |
Last Modified: | 2020-07-24 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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