Cross-slope variations of dissolved organic carbon in the Gulf of Cadiz, NE Atlantic Ocean (February 1998)

Our observations at a traverse of Ca&z in February 1998 indicated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations ranging from 61 to 89 pM C within the Spanish Shelf Water, from 48 to 64 pM C within the North Atlantic Surface Water, and from 49 to 55 pM C within the North Atlantic Central Water. Moreover, according to temperature and salinity data, the shallow core of the Mediterranean outflow was also identified deeper than 350 m depth with DOC concentrations between 52 and 58 pM C. The data suggest that DOC distribution at the traverse of the Gulf of Cadiz was controlled by outputs of degraded particles transported within alongslope descending shelf waters and also by features of the circulation in the Gulf of Cadiz. An estimate of organic carbon