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Physical controls on the seasonal migration of the North Pacific transition zone chlorophyll front

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 22:52 authored by Ayers, JM, Lozier, MS
The large seasonal migration of the transition zone chlorophyll front (TZCF) is of interest because a number of marine fauna, both commercial and endangered, appear to track it. Herein we examine the physical dynamics driving this seasonal migration of the TZCF. Vertical processes, traditionally viewed as controlling the dynamical supply of nutrients to surface waters, prove insufficient to explain seasonal variations in nutrient supply to the transition zone. Instead, we find that the horizontal Ekman transport of nutrients from higher latitudes drives the TZCF’s southward migration. The estimated horizontal transport of nitrate supports up to 40% of new primary productivity in the region annually and nearly all of new primary productivity in the winter. The significance of horizontal advection to the North Pacific transition zone supports revising the paradigm that nutrients are supplied to surface waters from below.

History

Publication title

Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans

Volume

115

Issue

C5

Article number

C05001

Number

C05001

Pagination

1-11

ISSN

0148-0227

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Americaan Geophysical Union

Place of publication

US

Rights statement

Copyright 2010 American Geophysical Union

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Atmospheric composition (incl. greenhouse gas inventory)

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