The effect of oceanographic circulation in Monterey Bay on Plankton Ecology an analysis of the Navy Coastal Ocean Model

摘要

ntly weak, and (2) krill accumulate in areas of high primary production. This study examined output from the high resolution Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) and correlated the circulation features predicted by the model with observed biological distributions. The model output indicated that the Monterey Bay submarine canyon is a region of weak current flow and low current variability. Model current fields showed that nutrient-rich water from a nearby upwelling center flows into the bay, making it conducive to primary productivity. Knowledge of how physical oceanographic factors affect marine food webs will facilitate the prediction of areas where marine mammals are likely to be present and inform the designation of marine sanctuaries.