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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, MSThe 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: OceansVolume
115Issue
C5Article number
C05001Number
C05001Pagination
1-11ISSN
0148-0227Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Americaan Geophysical UnionPlace of publication
USRights statement
Copyright 2010 American Geophysical UnionRepository Status
- Restricted