Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rothschild, B.
Right arrow Articles by Cai, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Rothschild, B.
Right arrow Articles by Cai, D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of Plankton Research, Vol 21, 1217-1230, Copyright © 1999 by Oxford University Press

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Influence of physical forcing on microclouds of dissolved organic matter and nutrients in the ocean

B Rothschild, P Haley and D Cai
Center for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 706 South Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, MA 02744, USA; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

A theory is developed on the statistical field description of plankton microzones or micropatches. The theory, which is based upon stochastic geometry, predicts length scales and volume fraction measures associated with plankton dynamics. The theory is exemplified by considering how microclouds might modulate the transformation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) into heterotrophic biomass. Volume fraction, covariance functions and spherical contact distributions for assemblages of Baltic Sea phytoplankton were computed using real data on phytoplankton cell density and size with conjectured microzone dimensions. By comparing microcloud length scales with molecular diffusion, turbulent diffusion and uncorrelated velocity length scales, we determined that variability in the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate, which might be induced by global and basin-scale wind forcing (for example), could influence the structure and functioning of the carbon microclouds. Microclouds, in contrast to microzones, are subject to the straining effects of turbulent diffusion, in addition to molecular diffusion. The microclouds themselves are often too small to be subject to uncorrelated velocities. However, the relative motion among microclouds is driven by the uncorrelated velocities of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. The concentrations of DOC suggest that the microclouds are temporary loci that enhance interaction among phytoplankton cells, bacteria and microzooplankton.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.