The Importance of Spatial and Temporal Scales in Understanding Chlorophyll Variability in the Southern Ocean

Abstract

Polar ecosystems are currently undergoing increasingly rapid changes in atmospheric and ocean circulation, temperature, sea ice cover, and stratification (Doney et al., 2012) that potentially impact light and nutrient availability. These changes alter the duration and magnitude of primary production as well as the phenology of the phytoplankton community. Shifts in primary production can significantly alter regional and global nutrient cycling (