Biogenic silica cycling during summer phytoplankton blooms in the North Pacific subtropical gyre

► Bloom biogenic silica stocks and production were enhanced by an order of magnitude. ► Bloom biogenic silica export at 300 m was among the highest values in the region. ► 77% of gross silica production in one bloom accumulated as biomass (54% is normal). ► Northeastern blooms potentially produced 3-25x more silica than gyre-interior blooms.