Turbulence mediates marine aggregate formation and destruction in the upper ocean

Abstract

Marine aggregates formed through particle coagulation, large ones (>0.05 cm) also called marine snow, make a significant contribution to the global carbon flux by sinking from the euphotic zone, impacting the Earth’s climate. Since aggregate sinking velocity and carbon content are size-dependent, understanding the physical mechanisms controlling aggregate size distribution is fundamental to determining the biological carbon pump efficiency. Theoretical, laboratory and in-situ studies of flocculation have suggested that turbulence in the benthic boundary layer is important for aggregate formation and destruction, but the small number of field observations has limited our understanding of the role of turbulence on aggregation processes in the ocean surface layer away from energetic boundaries. Using simultaneous field observations of turbulence and aggregates, we show how aggregate formation, destruction, morphology and size distribution in the ocean surface layer (10–100 m) are mediated by interactions between turbulence and aggregate concentration. Our findings suggest that turbulence enhances aggregate formation up to a critical turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate of 10⁻⁶ (W kg⁻¹), above which the smallest turbulent eddies limit aggregate size.