Work

Satellite measurements of chlorophyll distribution during spring 2005 in the California Current

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: Eight years of satellite data quantify spring 2005 surface chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a) anomalies in coastal areas of the California Current. Negative anomalies <−1.0 mg m−3 begin in March north of ∼47°N, spread south to 43°N in April and 40°N in May and June 2005, maximum (<−2.0 mg m−3) north of 45°N. Positive chlorophyll anomalies dominate from ∼40°N to 27°N during this period. Strongest negative wind stress and positive coastal surface temperature anomalies are located south of maximum chl‐a anomalies, in the region of maximum climatological summer wind stress. Despite the magnitude of these wind anomalies, they remain upwelling‐favorable and negative chl‐a anomalies are in higher latitude regions of weaker wind anomalies, sufficient however, to prolong winter downwelling, delaying the onset of spring upwelling. In June, winds across the entire region become strongly upwelling favorable and by July, chl‐a anomalies switch to positive.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2006gl026588

Authors: Andrew C. Thomas, Peter Brickley

Institution: University of Maine

Language: English

Topic: Marine Plankton and Biogeochemistry

Subfield: Oceanography

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Life below water

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center