Layered Organization in the Coastal Ocean: 4-D Assessment of Thin Layer Structure, Dynamics and Impacts

摘要

Our long-term goal is to understand (1) the properties of densely concentrated, thin layers of planktonic biota that can occur in coastal ocean environments, (2) the interacting physical, chemical, biological and optical processes responsible for establishment, maintenance and breakdown of layers, (3) the impact of thin layers on the dynamics of plankton populations and the performance of optical sensors, and (4) how the above vary between coastal systems that differ in physical size, exposure to physical forcing, and susceptibility to episodic events.