Algae concentrated by frazil ice: evidence from laboratory experiments and field measurements

A number of studies have suggested that high concentrations of organisms in sea ice may be the result of harvesting and concentration by frazil ice. Laboratory experiments have shown that frazil ice can concentrate organisms from two to four times above levels in the underlying water. The concentrat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic Science
Main Authors: Garrison, D.L., Close, A.R., Reimnitz, E.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102089000477
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102089000477
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Summary:A number of studies have suggested that high concentrations of organisms in sea ice may be the result of harvesting and concentration by frazil ice. Laboratory experiments have shown that frazil ice can concentrate organisms from two to four times above levels in the underlying water. The concentrations in nature, however, can be considerably higher. The apparent discrepancy between laboratory results and field observations can be explained by the longer temporal and spatial scales that allow more contact of ice crystals with particles and with one another in the sea. It is also likely that small-scale circulation features, such as Langmuir circulation, enhance the ability of frazil ice to concentrate organisms in a natural setting.