Physical-biological interactions in the Southern Ocean were investigated using
remote sensing data from several different satellite sensors. Satellite sea surface
temperature data were used to study the dynamics of the Antarctic Polar Front (PF).
Satellite ocean color data were used to estimate surface chlorophyll concentrations and
their relation to various physical forcings within the Southern Ocean. A detailed study of
phytoplankton blooms at the Antarctic Polar Front revealed that elevated chlorophyll
concentrations (phytoplankton blooms) occur most often in areas where the PF interacts
with large topographic features within the Southern Ocean. The physical dynamics of the
PF are strongly influenced by the topography, and in turn strongly influence
phytoplankton bloom dynamics. The analysis of satellite data from the modern Southern
Ocean indicates that phytoplankton are limited by the availability of the micronutrient
iron in most areas. This iron-limitation implies that the elevated iron inputs during
glacial periods would have led to increased phytoplankton primary and export production
and a stronger sink for atmospheric CO��� in the Southern Ocean. / Graduation date: 2000
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/27780 |
| Date | 10 June 1999 |
| Creators | Moore, Jefferson Keith |
| Contributors | Abbott, Mark R. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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