Magnetic Signature of Vertically Migrating Aggregations in the Ocean. Issue 5 (4th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, M. K.; Dabiri, J. O.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 50:Issue 5(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-03-04
• Subjects: mixing in geophysical flows -- electromagnetism -- oceanography -- magnetometry; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2022GL101441
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: The significance of fluid transport in the ocean due to migrating aggregations of zooplankton remains poorly understood due to practical challenges associated with predicting, identifying, and quantifying instances of enhanced biogenic mixing. We present a new approach to overcome these limitations by quantifying the biogenic transport via its distinct magnetic signatures. This present approach can be accomplished potentially without a priori knowledge of the precise location of the aggregation and without triggering animal avoidance caused by the introduction of instruments into the migration. Plain Language Summary: Fluid transport by vertically migrating aggregations of plankton has long been explored as a potentially important source of ocean mixing. However, direct evidence of enhanced stirring remains inconclusive as current approaches require a priori knowledge of the precise aggregation location and typically trigger animal avoidance behavior from introducing instrumentation into the migration. This Letter proposes a new approach to overcome these longstanding limitations by measuring the magnetic signatures of biogenic transport. By leveraging modern magnetometry, especially quantum‐enhanced techniques, magnetic measurements of biogenic stirring can be related to the integrated fluid flow and are potentially detectable remotely at distances far removed from the aggregation. Key Points: Fluid transported and mixed by vertically migrating aggregations of plankton in the ocean has a distinct magnetic field signature The magnetic signature of biomixing is potentially detectable far from aggregations with emerging, quantum‐enhanced magnetometry techniques The present approach avoids triggering animal avoidance behavior and does not require a priori knowledge of the precise aggregation location