Coccolithophore bloom size variation in response to the regional environment of the subarctic North Atlantic

Raitsos, DE, Lavender, SJ, Pradhan, Y, Tyrrell, T, Reid, PC and Edwards, M 2006 Coccolithophore bloom size variation in response to the regional environment of the subarctic North Atlantic. Limnology and Oceanography, 51 (5). 2122-2130.

PDF dionysios_2006.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (982kB)

Abstract/Summary

Several environmental/physical variables derived from satellite and in situ data sets were used to understand the variability of coccolithophore abundance in the subarctic North Atlantic. The 7-yr (1997–2004) time-series analysis showed that the combined effects of high solar radiation, shallow mixed layer depth (<20 m), and increased temperatures explained >89% of the coccolithophore variation. The June 1998 bloom, which was associated with high light intensity, unusually high sea-surface temperature, and a very shallow mixed layer, was found to be one of the most extensive (>995,000 km2) blooms ever recorded. There was a pronounced sea-surface temperature shift in the mid-1990s with a peak in 1998, suggesting that exceptionally large blooms are caused by pronounced environmental conditions and the variability of the physical environment strongly affects the spatial extent of these blooms. Consequently, if the physical environment varies, the effects of these blooms on the atmospheric and oceanic environment will vary as well.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Temperature effects Light intensity Environmental conditions Solar radiation Satellites Abundance Algal blooms Phytoplankton Environmental factors Mixed layer depth Temporal variations
Subjects:	Ecology and Environment
Divisions:	Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science > Other (SAHFOS) (expired)
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date made live:	23 Feb 2007
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2017 16:00
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/1906

Actions (login required)

View Item