Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-478
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-478
07 Jul 2022
 | 07 Jul 2022

Phytoplankton reaction to an intense storm in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Stéphanie Barrillon, Robin Fuchs, Anne A. Petrenko, Caroline Comby, Anthony Bosse, Christophe Yohia, Jean-Luc Fuda, Nagib Bhairy, Frédéric Cyr, Andrea M. Doglioli, Gérald Grégori, Roxane Tzortzis, Franscesco d'Ovidio, and Melilotus Thyssen

Abstract. The study of extreme weather events and their impact on ocean physics and biogeochemistry is challenging due to the difficulty of collecting in situ data. Yet, recent research pointed out the major influence of such physical forcing events on microbiological organisms. Moreover, such violent event occurrences may rise in the future in the context of global change. In May 2019, an intense storm occurred in the Ligurian Sea (north-western Mediterranean Sea) and was captured during the FUMSECK cruise. In situ multi-platform measurements (vessel-mounted ADCP, thermosaligraph, fluorometer, flow cytometer, a Moving Vessel Profiler equipped with a multi-sensor towed vehicle, and glider) along with satellite data and a 3D atmospherical model were used to characterise the fine-scale dynamics occurring in the impacted oceanic zone. The most affected area was marked by a lower water temperature (1 °C colder), and an increase by a factor two in surface chlorophyll-a and seven in nitrate concentrations, exhibiting strong gradients with respect to the surrounding waters. Our results show that this storm led to a deepening of the mixed layer depth from 15 to 50 m and a dilution of the deep chlorophyll maximum. As a result, the surface phytoplankton biomass of most groups identified by automated flow cytometry increased by up to a factor of two. Conversely, the phytoplankton carbon-chlorophyll ratio of most groups dropped down by a factor of two, evidencing significant changes in the phytoplankton cell compositions. These results suggest that the role of storms on the biogeochemistry and ecology of the Mediterranean open sea may be underestimated and highlight the need for high-resolution measurements coupling physics and biology during these events.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Jan 2023
Phytoplankton reaction to an intense storm in the north-western Mediterranean Sea
Stéphanie Barrillon, Robin Fuchs, Anne A. Petrenko, Caroline Comby, Anthony Bosse, Christophe Yohia, Jean-Luc Fuda, Nagib Bhairy, Frédéric Cyr, Andrea M. Doglioli, Gérald Grégori, Roxane Tzortzis, Francesco d'Ovidio, and Melilotus Thyssen
Biogeosciences, 20, 141–161, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-141-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-141-2023, 2023
Short summary

Stéphanie Barrillon et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-478', Yuntao Wang, 31 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Stéphanie Barrillon, 01 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Stéphanie Barrillon, 22 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-478', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Aug 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Stéphanie Barrillon, 22 Sep 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-478', Yuntao Wang, 31 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Stéphanie Barrillon, 01 Aug 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC1', Stéphanie Barrillon, 22 Sep 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-478', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Aug 2022
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC2', Stéphanie Barrillon, 22 Sep 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (22 Sep 2022) by Emilio Marañón
AR by Stéphanie Barrillon on behalf of the Authors (26 Oct 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (28 Oct 2022) by Emilio Marañón
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (05 Nov 2022)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (10 Nov 2022)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (14 Nov 2022) by Emilio Marañón
AR by Stéphanie Barrillon on behalf of the Authors (25 Nov 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (25 Nov 2022) by Emilio Marañón
AR by Stéphanie Barrillon on behalf of the Authors (30 Nov 2022)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

11 Jan 2023
Phytoplankton reaction to an intense storm in the north-western Mediterranean Sea
Stéphanie Barrillon, Robin Fuchs, Anne A. Petrenko, Caroline Comby, Anthony Bosse, Christophe Yohia, Jean-Luc Fuda, Nagib Bhairy, Frédéric Cyr, Andrea M. Doglioli, Gérald Grégori, Roxane Tzortzis, Francesco d'Ovidio, and Melilotus Thyssen
Biogeosciences, 20, 141–161, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-141-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-141-2023, 2023
Short summary

Stéphanie Barrillon et al.

Stéphanie Barrillon et al.

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Short summary
Extreme weather events can have a major impact on ocean physics and biogeochemistry, but their study is challenging. In May 2019, an intense storm occurred in the north-western Mediterranean Sea, during which in situ multi-platform measurements were performed. The results show a strong impact on the surface phytoplankton, highlighting the need for high-resolution measurements coupling physics and biology during these violent events, with occurrences that may rise in the context of global change.