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SUMMARY:Ocean turbulence\, fronts\, and the timing of the spring phytoplan
 kton bloom - Dr. John R. Taylor (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20120306T163000Z
DTEND:20120306T173000Z
UID:TALK33460@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:John Maclennan
DESCRIPTION:Phytoplankton\, tiny free-floating algae\, form the foundation
  of the ocean food web and are responsible for roughly half the global pri
 mary production. In many locations\, phytoplankton growth occurs in intens
 e bursts known as blooms. The factors that lead to these blooms\, particul
 arly the intense spring bloom\, have been the topic of intense study for d
 ecades. Here\, I will present new evidence that the timing of the spring b
 loom can be linked to the level of turbulence in the upper ocean and to th
 e strength of atmospheric forcing. While this mechanism is able to predict
  the overall timing of the spring bloom\, phytoplankton growth can be loca
 lly modified by ocean fronts. Fronts\, or regions with large horizontal de
 nsity contrasts\, suppress vertical mixing\, and can thereby trigger phyto
 plankton blooms during strong atmospheric forcing. By reducing the phytopl
 ankton flux out of the well-lit euphotic layer\, fronts can support phytop
 lankton blooms during harsh wintertime conditions. This mechanism helps to
  explain satellite-based observations of isolated wintertime phytoplankton
  blooms.\n\nSverdrup\, H. (1953)\, On conditions for the vernal blooming o
 f phytoplankton. J. Cons. Int. Explor. Mer\, 18\, 287–295. \n\nHuisman\,
  J.\, P. van Oostveen\, and F. Weissing (1999)\, Critical depth and critic
 al turbulence: Two different mechanisms for the development of phytoplankt
 on blooms. Limnol. Oceanogr.\, 44(7)\, 1781–1787.   \n\nTaylor\, J.R. an
 d R. Ferrari (2011)\, Shutdown of turbulent convection as a new criterion 
 for the onset of spring phytoplankton blooms. Limnology and Oceanography\,
  56(6) 2293-2307.\n\nTaylor\, J.R. and R. Ferrari (2011)\, Ocean fronts tr
 igger high latitude phytoplankton blooms. Geophysical Research Letters\, 3
 8\, L23601\, doi:10.1029/2011GL049312.
LOCATION:Harker 1 seminar room\, Department of Earth Sciences
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