Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll
Although mesoscale ocean eddies are ubiquitous in the Southern Ocean, their average regional and seasonal association with phytoplankton has not been quantified systematically yet. To this end, we identify over 100 000 mesoscale eddies with diameters of 50 km and more in the Southern Ocean and deter...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:aaafaf6fb0e64ccb88455eaaa8df5f72 2023-05-15T14:01:46+02:00 Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll I. Frenger M. Münnich N. Gruber 2018-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 https://doaj.org/article/aaafaf6fb0e64ccb88455eaaa8df5f72 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.biogeosciences.net/15/4781/2018/bg-15-4781-2018.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4170 https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4189 doi:10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 1726-4170 1726-4189 https://doaj.org/article/aaafaf6fb0e64ccb88455eaaa8df5f72 Biogeosciences, Vol 15, Pp 4781-4798 (2018) Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 2022-12-31T10:52:54Z Although mesoscale ocean eddies are ubiquitous in the Southern Ocean, their average regional and seasonal association with phytoplankton has not been quantified systematically yet. To this end, we identify over 100 000 mesoscale eddies with diameters of 50 km and more in the Southern Ocean and determine the associated phytoplankton biomass anomalies using satellite-based chlorophyll- a (Chl) as a proxy. The mean Chl anomalies, δ Chl, associated with these eddies, comprising the upper echelon of the oceanic mesoscale, exceed ±10 % over wide regions. The structure of these anomalies is largely zonal, with cyclonic, thermocline lifted, eddies having positive anomalies in the subtropical waters north of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and negative anomalies along its main flow path. The pattern is similar, but reversed for anticyclonic, thermocline deepened eddies. The seasonality of δ Chl is weak in subtropical waters, but pronounced along the ACC, featuring a seasonal sign switch. The spatial structure and seasonality of the mesoscale δ Chl can be explained largely by lateral advection, especially local eddy-stirring. A prominent exception is the ACC region in winter, where δ Chl is consistent with a modulation of phytoplankton light exposure caused by an eddy-induced modification of the mixed layer depth. The clear impact of mesoscale eddies on phytoplankton may implicate a downstream effect on Southern Ocean biogeochemical properties, such as mode water nutrient contents. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic Biogeosciences 15 15 4781 4798 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 I. Frenger M. Münnich N. Gruber Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
topic_facet |
Ecology QH540-549.5 Life QH501-531 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Although mesoscale ocean eddies are ubiquitous in the Southern Ocean, their average regional and seasonal association with phytoplankton has not been quantified systematically yet. To this end, we identify over 100 000 mesoscale eddies with diameters of 50 km and more in the Southern Ocean and determine the associated phytoplankton biomass anomalies using satellite-based chlorophyll- a (Chl) as a proxy. The mean Chl anomalies, δ Chl, associated with these eddies, comprising the upper echelon of the oceanic mesoscale, exceed ±10 % over wide regions. The structure of these anomalies is largely zonal, with cyclonic, thermocline lifted, eddies having positive anomalies in the subtropical waters north of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and negative anomalies along its main flow path. The pattern is similar, but reversed for anticyclonic, thermocline deepened eddies. The seasonality of δ Chl is weak in subtropical waters, but pronounced along the ACC, featuring a seasonal sign switch. The spatial structure and seasonality of the mesoscale δ Chl can be explained largely by lateral advection, especially local eddy-stirring. A prominent exception is the ACC region in winter, where δ Chl is consistent with a modulation of phytoplankton light exposure caused by an eddy-induced modification of the mixed layer depth. The clear impact of mesoscale eddies on phytoplankton may implicate a downstream effect on Southern Ocean biogeochemical properties, such as mode water nutrient contents. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
I. Frenger M. Münnich N. Gruber |
author_facet |
I. Frenger M. Münnich N. Gruber |
author_sort |
I. Frenger |
title |
Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
title_short |
Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
title_full |
Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
title_fullStr |
Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
title_full_unstemmed |
Imprint of Southern Ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
title_sort |
imprint of southern ocean mesoscale eddies on chlorophyll |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 https://doaj.org/article/aaafaf6fb0e64ccb88455eaaa8df5f72 |
geographic |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Southern Ocean The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean |
op_source |
Biogeosciences, Vol 15, Pp 4781-4798 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://www.biogeosciences.net/15/4781/2018/bg-15-4781-2018.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4170 https://doaj.org/toc/1726-4189 doi:10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 1726-4170 1726-4189 https://doaj.org/article/aaafaf6fb0e64ccb88455eaaa8df5f72 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4781-2018 |
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Biogeosciences |
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15 |
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15 |
container_start_page |
4781 |
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4798 |
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1766271800604360704 |