{"title":"A model of near‐sea ice phytoplankton blooms","authors":"C. W. Lester, T. J. W. Wagner, Dylan E. McNamara","doi":"10.1002/lol2.10449","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Arctic phytoplankton spring blooms have increased in magnitude and extent over the past two decades, particularly in waters near the sea ice edge. We develop an idealized model of phytoplankton dynamics that takes into account the role of sea ice meltwater flux and its impact on surface mixed layer depth. Satellite observations feature a characteristic peak in phytoplankton concentration at around 100 km from the ice edge. Model dynamics capture this peak and overall structure of the phytoplankton distribution. In the model, the characteristic spatial scale emerges from a balance of exponential growth near the ice edge, horizontal advection, and increased decay with distance from the ice as the mixed layer deepens. Observations and data further agree in that meltwater impacts phytoplankton concentrations up to 1000 km from the ice edge. Results suggest that reduced meltwater input under future sea ice retreat may suppress spring phytoplankton blooms in the region.","PeriodicalId":18128,"journal":{"name":"Limnology and Oceanography Letters","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Limnology and Oceanography Letters","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10449","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"LIMNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Arctic phytoplankton spring blooms have increased in magnitude and extent over the past two decades, particularly in waters near the sea ice edge. We develop an idealized model of phytoplankton dynamics that takes into account the role of sea ice meltwater flux and its impact on surface mixed layer depth. Satellite observations feature a characteristic peak in phytoplankton concentration at around 100 km from the ice edge. Model dynamics capture this peak and overall structure of the phytoplankton distribution. In the model, the characteristic spatial scale emerges from a balance of exponential growth near the ice edge, horizontal advection, and increased decay with distance from the ice as the mixed layer deepens. Observations and data further agree in that meltwater impacts phytoplankton concentrations up to 1000 km from the ice edge. Results suggest that reduced meltwater input under future sea ice retreat may suppress spring phytoplankton blooms in the region.
期刊介绍:
Limnology and Oceanography Letters (LO-Letters) serves as a platform for communicating the latest innovative and trend-setting research in the aquatic sciences. Manuscripts submitted to LO-Letters are expected to present high-impact, cutting-edge results, discoveries, or conceptual developments across all areas of limnology and oceanography, including their integration. Selection criteria for manuscripts include their broad relevance to the field, strong empirical and conceptual foundations, succinct and elegant conclusions, and potential to advance knowledge in aquatic sciences.