Drivers of primary productivity in Antarctic coastal polynyas ...

• Main Author: Liniger, Guillaume
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: University of Tasmania 2024
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/25337863.v1; https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Drivers_of_primary_productivity_in_Antarctic_coastal_polynyas/25337863/1

The Southern Ocean displays strong latitudinal biological patterns, with the highest phytoplankton production recorded in polynyas along the Antarctic coast. Polynyas are areas of open water surrounded by sea ice that are critical for sea-ice production, deep water formation, thermohaline circulation, ecosystems and carbon sequestration. They are strongly modulated by the seasonal cycle of sea-ice formation and melt, which varies widely regionally and interannually. How changes in the cryosphere affect marine productivity is still elusive and uncertain. In this thesis, we use a range of satellite and biogeochemical Argo data to understand the close relationship between phytoplankton productivity and the environment. We first investigate this relationship at the ocean-cryosphere interface in two selected areas, and then expand to an open-water basin scale for a global perspective. In the opening research chapter (chapter 3), we examine the impact that a large and sudden event had on biological productivity. ...