Finescale Planktonic Vertical Structure: Horizontal Extent and the Controlling Physical Processes Layered Organization in the Coastal Ocean (LOCO) DRI

摘要

Our long-term goal is to quantify the interactions between small- scale biological and physical processes within the upper ocean. Our work within the Layered Organization in the Coastal Ocean (LOCO) DRI examines specific scientific questions that relate the distribution and variability in sub- 1m scale bio-optical properties with coincident vertical and horizontal scales of physical properties. Observations in different ocean areas have confirmed the presence of persistent, small-scale local maxima in the concentrations of nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. These persistent features result from complex linkages between physical forcing and gradients in the distribution of biological properties. Therefore, our goals within the LOCO DRI are to * quantify the linkage these physical processes and the steep vertical gradients in biological properties within 'thin layers,' * develop a more detailed understanding of the time scales and horizontal spatial scales over which these features persist, and * evaluate the relative importance of vertical and horizontal processes in establishing planktonic distribution patterns.