Monotonic decrease in oxygen of East Sea Proper Water, as noted by many others. Could O2 utilization be higher than usually assumed for open ocean conditions, due to enhanced sedimentary processes?
Vertical oxygen profiles from the central Japan Basin. From Kim et al. (1998) with the addition of our summer, 1999, profile (diamonds - station 153 at 42ƒ 45'N, 136ƒ 03'E).
The decrease in deep oxygen does not necessarily mean that there is no deep water formation, only that it is formed at a lower rate now than prior to 1930s.
(note that we observed penetration last, warm winter to >1000m both on slope and in convection patch, maybe bottom)
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