Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin

Sinking particles are a critical conduit for the export of organic material from surface waters to deep ocean. Despite their importance in oceanic carbon cycling, little is known about biotic composition and seasonal variability sinking reaching abyssal depths. Herein, particle flux data, collected Ierapetra Basin three-year period (June 2010 June 2013), have been examined at light atmospheric oceanographic parameters main mass components (lithogenic, opal, carbonates, nitrogen, carbon), stable isotopes particulate (POC) source-specific lipid biomarkers. Our aim improve current understanding dynamics fluxes linkages between ocean biogeochemistry shaping matter Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Overall, showed seasonality interannual over studied period. POC peaked spring April–May 2012 (12.2 mg m −2 d −1 ) related with extreme forcing. Summer was approximately fourfold higher than mean wintertime, fall springtime (except episodic event 2012), fueling efficient sequestration. Lipid biomarkers indicate high relative contribution natural anthropogenic, marine- land-derived during both (April–May) summer (June–July) deep-sea floor. Moreover, our results highlight that pulses crucial export, while coupling weather events deposition can trigger influx marine labile anthropogenic compounds Levantine Finally, comparison time series data corresponding biogeochemical previously reported sediment samples shed on benthic–pelagic study area. Thus, this underscores accounting into sea modeling depth intensity sequestration, better global cycle.