Modeling studies of the bioluminescence potential dynamics in a high Arctic fjord during polar night

Abstract

During polar nights in January 2012 and 2017, significantly higher bioluminescence (BL) potential emissions in the upper 50 m were observed in the fjord Rijpfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) in comparison to offshore stations (located on the shelf-break, shelf-slope areas and in the deeper water). The objective of this paper is to better understand why, during two polar nights (separated by 5 years), the values of BL potential in the northern Svalbard fjord are higher than at offshore stations, and what the role of advection is in observed elevated BL potential values in the top 50 m of the fjord. To address the above objective, we applied the same BL potential modeling approach and strategies during polar nights for both 2012 and 2017. For both years, advection of BL potential from offshore (including upwelling along the shelf, shelf-slope) produced an increase of BL potential in the fjord area, in spite of the introduction of mortality in bioluminescent organisms. Observations of BL potential indicated high emissions at depths below 100 m at offshore stations for both polar nights. Our modeling studies demonstrated that these high values of BL potential below 100 m are upwelled and advected to the top 50 m of the fjord. We demonstrated that upwelling and advection of these deep high BL potential values (and therefore, upwelling and advection of corresponding bioluminescent taxa) from offshore areas are dominant factors in observed BL potential dynamics in the top 50 m in the fjord.

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