Winter-mixing preconditioning of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Bay of Biscay

González-Gil, Ricardo and González Taboada, Fernando and Cáceres, Carlos and Largier, John L. and Anadón, Ricardo (2017) Winter-mixing preconditioning of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Bay of Biscay. Limnology and Oceanography. ISSN 0024-3590 (https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10769)

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Abstract

The spring phytoplankton bloom plays a key role in the dynamics of temperate and polar seas. Nevertheless, the mechanisms and processes behind these blooms remain a subject of considerable debate. We analyzed the influence of deep mixing during winter on the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Cantabrian Sea (southern Bay of Biscay). To this end, we combined long-term physical and biogeochemical in situ data (1993–2012) and satellite observations (1997–2012). Deeper winter mixing led to higher nitrate and chlorophyll concentrations through the water column during the spring bloom. However, this effect was modified by short-term variability in near-surface stratification in spring. Winter-mixing preconditioning also influenced different spring bloom metrics: deeper and later mixing in winter was followed by later blooms with a larger peak. In these enhanced blooms, nitrate was taken up at faster rates, indicating higher rates of phytoplankton production. Winters with weaker mixing (that led to weaker spring blooms) were associated with warmer surface temperatures. This relationship suggests that the multi-decadal trend toward warmer surface temperatures in the Bay of Biscay may promote a decrease in the magnitude of the spring bloom, which could impact upper trophic levels and also deep carbon export in the future.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:63473
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    20 December 2017
    Published
    20 December 2017
    Published Online
    21 November 2017
    Accepted
    Notes:This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: González-Gil, R., González Taboada, F., Cáceres, C., Largier, J. L., & Anadón, R. (2017). Winter-mixing preconditioning of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Bay of Biscay. Limnology and Oceanography , which has been published in final form at https:doi.org/10.1002/lno.10769. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
    Subjects:Agriculture > Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
    Science > Mathematics > Probabilities. Mathematical statistics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Mathematics and Statistics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:14 Mar 2018 11:13
    Last modified:08 Apr 2024 23:54
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/63473
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