Near-ubiquity of ice-edge blooms in the Arctic

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Perrette, M., Yool, A., Quartly, G.D., Popova, E.E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Arctic; Sea ice; ice covered areas
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/307397/

Ice-edge blooms are significant features of Arctic primary production, yet have received relatively little attention. Here we combine satellite ocean colour and sea-ice data in a pan-Arctic study. Ice-edge blooms occur in all seasonally ice-covered areas and from spring to late summer, being observed in 77–89% of locations for which adequate data exist, and usually peaking within 20 days of ice retreat. They sometimes form long belts along the ice-edge (greater than 100 km), although smaller structures were also found. The bloom peak is on average more than 1 mg m−3, with major blooms more than 10 mg m−3, and is usually located close to the ice-edge, though not always. Some propagate behind the receding ice-edge over hundreds of kilometres and over several months, while others remain stationary. The strong connection between ice retreat and productivity suggests that the ongoing changes in Arctic sea-ice may have a significant impact on higher trophic levels and local fish stocks.