Synoptic estimates of phytoplankton biomass and production in the world's oceans are dependent upon ocean colour remote sensing and suitable algorithms developed from simultaneous measurements of photosynthetic parameters and optical properties in the water column. This study presents Photosynthesis-Irradiance (P-I) parameters estimated for a warm-core ring shed from the Agulhas Retroflection, in autumn, in the region of the Sub-Tropical Convergence south of Africa. Comparisons are made between values within the ring, at its edge and outside the ring in surrounding SubAntarctic Water. The l % light depth within the warm-core ring ranged from 38 to 92 m, 40 to 54 m at the edge and 40 to 75 m outside the ring. Chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations in surface waters increased from ca 0.43 mg m-3 within the ring to about 1.0 mg m-3 at the nng edge and outside the ring. Size-fractionated chl a demonstrated that >56 % of the phytoplankton were <20 pm in size within the warm-core ring while outside the ring this figure was about 30%. Picoplankton < 3 pm made up between 8 and 9 % of the biomass at all sites. Considerable variability in photosynthetic parameters was found at all stations. Overall, the mean surface P ' , , , (max. production rate) and aB (initial slope of P-I curve) were 1.59 f 0.13 mg C (mg chl a ) -' h-' and 0.046 + 0 01 mg C (mg chl a)'' h-' (PE m'2 S-')-' Throughout, aB was higher at 100 m and Ik (irradiance of saturation) lower. Production integrated to 100 m was lowest inside the ring (287 mg C m-2 d-l), intermediate outside (404 mg C d-') and highest at the ring edge (453 mg C m-2 d-l). We argue that production within the warm-core ring is limited by convective instability while outside the ring photosynthesis is probably limited by light, since nutrients are non-luniting. The edge of the ring exhibits highest production because of stability conferred by the warm-core ring water and a more favourable light environment. In terms of defining 'bio-optical provinces' based on remote sensing and photosynthetic parameters, we have identified a hydrographic area south of Africa covering the Sub-Tropical Convergence (STC) where there are reliable Coastal Zone Colour Scanner data which provide an average annual chl a concentration estimate of 0.49 mg m-3. For this area we estimate total production integrated to 100 m to range from 10.5 X 102 to 16.5 X 102 t C yr-', ca 0.5 to 0.8 % of the global oceanic production. This confirms the importance of the STC as a potential biogenic sink for atmospheric CO2.

An investigation into the changing phytoplankton biomass and total water column production during autumn sea ice formation in the eastern Weddell Sea, Antarctica showed reduced biomass concentrations Parameters used in the text p ( ~ pB) production PBmax maximum production rate (photosynthetic capacity) P% potential light saturated production rate ~B ( ___ ,~) initial slope of P.I. curve Primary production was integrated to the critical depth (Zod at each production station and ranged from 15.6 to 41.5 mgC.m-2.d -1. It appears that, other than grazing intensity, the relationship between the critical depth and the mixing depth (Zmix) is an important factor as, ultimately, light availability due both to the late season and growing sea ice cover severely limits production during the austral autumn.K.M. Dower ((El)

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