A bio-optical approach to phytoplankton community sturcture, physiology and primary production on the Weddell Gyre

The Southern Ocean is an important “sink” for anthropogenic CO2, but it requires a detailed understanding of the sensitivity of the biological carbon pump to variability in physical forcing mechanisms in order to predict its continuing role. However, due to the remote and tempestuous nature of this region, in situ measurements of phytoplankton variability are scarce. Consequently, satellites, autonomous floats and gliders are increasingly being utilized as platforms for observing biogeochemical variability over broad spatial and temporal scales, through satellite ocean colour radiometry linked to inherent optical properties (IOPs) of the upper water column. In this study, the variability of in situ IOPs was investigated together with phytoplankton biomass, cell size, species composition and chlorophyll to carbon (Chl:C) ratios to isolate and understand the relationships between IOPs and biogeochemistry.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Oceanography

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Ceinwen

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Waldron, Howard
• Thomalla, Sandy
• Lucas, Mike

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13365

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13365