Effects of Physical and Biological Factors on Aggregate Dynamics in situ

摘要

Our approach in investigating the above hypotheses is to determine the abundanceand size distribution of marine snow in surface waters off southern California as a function of vertical and horizontal variations in biological activity (surface production, Chl. a, smaller particle abundance, zooplankton grazing), temperature, salinity, and water column turbulent microstructure. The research is being conducted in two stages. During Stage 1 (year 1) the relationship between marine snow abundance and size distribution and vertical variability in biological and physical parameters of the water column has been investigated. During Stage 2 (year 2) Stage 1 activities will be continued and investigations of marine snow distribution and formation as a function of turbulent microstructure will begin. (js)