A model of the spring bloom in the North Atlantic and its impact on ocean optics

• Published in: Limnology and Oceanography
• Main Author: Wroblewski, J. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1989
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4319/lo.1989.34.8.1563; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.4319%2Flo.1989.34.8.1563; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4319/lo.1989.34.8.1563; https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4319/lo.1989.34.8.1563

A model of the development of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic and its effect on light attenuation in the water column is presented. The model uses as input data on the climatological mixed‐layer depth, solar irradiance at the sea surface, and basin‐scale distribution of nitrate at standard depths. The simulated phytoplankton bloom progresses from mid‐ to high latitudes following the shallowing of the mixed layer during March through June. The bloom occurs first in coastal waters where the mixed layer is shallow and later in the open ocean. Local peak concentrations of phytoplankton last 1–2 weeks. As phytoplankton are the major absorbers and scatterers of light in the open ocean, the relationship between chlorophyll concentration and light attenuation can be used to predict time‐varying fields of light extinction. The basin‐scale variability in the attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance at 490 nm ( K 490) in May is computed as an example.