Physics Program Presents

The Role of the Amazon River Outflow and Tropical Instability Waves in Controlling Phytoplankton Biomass in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean
 

The Tropical and Equatorial Atlantic Ocean has been well studied by physical oceanographers and meteorologists because of its importance to ocean circulation, deoxygenation, and rainfall in the Sahel but less is known about how the physics of this region controls biological processes.  The Tropical Atlantic is thought to have enhanced biological productivity and play an important role in global carbon flux - Longhurst (1993) estimated that the tropical Atlantic Ocean (10N – 10S) contributed more to global carbon fixation than the entire North Atlantic open ocean including the well-studied Spring Bloom.  The Equatorial upwelling process is widely accepted as being seasonal and is evident in satellite observations as lower monthly sea surface temperature and concomitant higher monthly chlorophyll concentrations between June and September of each year.  We will discuss the role of physical forcing factors such as the Amazon River outflow, the position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, and Tropical Instability Wave activity in controlling the availability of nutrients and consequently, the phytoplankton community structure from cruises we participated in this region.
 

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For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].

Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5

Location: Hegeman 107

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