Phytoplankton pigment patterns in the California Current as determined by satellite1

Abstract

The satellite images of phytoplankton pigments off California show a high degree of heterogeneity. However, recurrent phytoplankton pigment structures can be identified in the California Current. The major ones are: two sharp boundaries several hundreds of kilometers long; low pigment eddies far offshore interwoven with higher pigment structures immediately inshore; a low pigment intrusion in the Southern California Bight, and a higher pigment region farther offshore; eddies "attached" to shallow coastal areas; and California Current rings spawned far offshore.The larger scale structures of phytoplankton pigments show a remarkable continuity throughout a year, but there is shifting, wobbling, and erosion of these structures. The structures are strong and distinct in spring and summer, weaken through fall (except for a slight intensification in October), and become weakest and poorly defined in late fall-early winter. The patterns of distribution of phytoplankton pigments for a given season tend to reappear from one year to another in the 3 years analyzed. Such recurrency is significant because these patterns may change, and some disappear, within any given year.Clear similarities of the phytoplankton pigment distributions to the field of dynamic height and to an infrared image of sea surface temperature indicate the very important role of ocean circulation, and of phytoplankton nutrient content of the waters, in the generation and maintenance of the observed patterns.

Temporal and spatial patterns of microbial community biomass and composition in the Southern California Current Ecosystem

“…This area is enriched by wind-stress curl, by advective transport from Pt. Conception upwelling, and by eddies, fronts and meanders of the California Current jet, which takes an eastward turn toward the coast in this vicinity (Lynn and Simpson, 1987;Hayward et al, 1995;Peláez and McGowan, 1986;Thomas and Strub, 1990;Haury et al, 1993;Venrick, 2000;Taylor et al, 2012).…”

“…To better understand pelagic ecosystem dynamics of the southern CCE, extensive modeling and remote sensing studies have been conducted to determine processes controlling chlorophyll a concentrations, primary production, phytoplankton growth rates, biomass and carbon to chlorophyll a ratios (Eppley et al, 1985;Peláez and McGowan, 1986;Di Lorenzo et al, 2004;Gruber et al, 2006;Li et al, 2010;Kahru et al, 2012Kahru et al, , 2015. However, the success of such studies depends highly on quality in situ measurements for parameterization, algorithm development and validation.…”

Pelagic—benthic coupling in the abyssal eastern North Pacific: An 8‐year time‐series study of food supply and demand

“…The California Current supports a meandering along-shore jet that spawns cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies westward from spring to fall (Strub and James 2000). These eddies transport nutrient-rich water offshore, leading to high chlorophyll and zooplankton concentrations along the central California coast (Haury et al 1986;Pelaez and McGowan 1986).…”

Cross-shelf phytoplankton pigment variability in the California Current

“…Abbott and Zion, 1985;Pelaez and McGowan, 1986;Smith et al, 1988;Michaelson et al, 1988;Thomas and Strub, 1990) or contrasts latitudinal and seasonal variability within specific regions over which differences between nearshore and offshore are evident but actual cross-shelf patterns of pigment concentration were averaged (Michaelson et al, 1988;Strub et al, 1990). A systematic analysis of temporal and latitudinal patterns of cross-shelf phytoplankton pigment distribution in the California Current has not been published.…”

“…Individual images (e.g. Pelaez and McGowan, 1986;Simpson et al, 1986) illustrate the intense mesoscale dynamics associated pigment distribution.…”