eCite Digital Repository
Satellite observations of chlorophyll, phytoplankton biomass, and Ekman pumping in nonlinear mesoscale eddies
Citation
Gaube, P and Chelton, DB and Strutton, PG and Behrenfeld, MJ, Satellite observations of chlorophyll, phytoplankton biomass, and Ekman pumping in nonlinear mesoscale eddies, Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 118, (12) pp. 6349-6370. ISSN 2169-9275 (2013) [Refereed Article]
![]() | PDF 13Mb |
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013 American Geophysical Union
Abstract
Nonlinear mesoscale eddies can influence biogeochemical cycles in the upper ocean
through vertical and horizontal advection of nutrients and marine organisms. The relative
importance of these two processes depends on the polarity of an eddy (cyclones versus
anticyclones) and the initial biological conditions of the fluid trapped in the core of the eddy
at the time of formation. Eddies originating in the eastern South Indian Ocean are unique in
that anticyclones, typically associated with downwelling, contain elevated levels of
chlorophyll-a, enhanced primary production and phytoplankton communities generally
associated with nutrient-replete environments. From analysis of 9 years of concurrent
satellite measurements of sea surface height, chlorophyll, phytoplankton carbon, and
surface stress, we present observations that suggest eddy-induced Ekman upwelling as a
mechanism that is at least partly responsible for sustaining positive phytoplankton
anomalies in anticyclones of the South Indian Ocean. The biological response to this eddyinduced
Ekman upwelling is evident only during the Austral winter. During the Austral
summer, the biological response to eddy-induced Ekman pumping occurs deep in the
euphotic zone, beyond the reach of satellite observations of ocean color.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Indian Ocean, eddies, satellite oceanography, phytoplankton |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Oceanography |
Research Field: | Biological oceanography |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences |
UTAS Author: | Strutton, PG (Professor Peter Strutton) |
ID Code: | 89513 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Funding Support: | Australian Research Council (CE1101028) |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 167 |
Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-03-06 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-30 |
Downloads: | 145 View Download Statistics |
Repository Staff Only: item control page