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Wind, Circulation, and Topographic Effects on Alongshore Phytoplankton Variability in the California Current
Author(s) -
Fiechter Jerome,
Edwards Christopher A.,
Moore Andrew M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl076839
Subject(s) - upwelling , oceanography , phytoplankton , environmental science , biogeochemical cycle , wind stress , current (fluid) , downwelling , geostrophic wind , geostrophic current , climatology , geology , nutrient , ecology , biology
A physical‐biogeochemical model is used to produce a retrospective analysis at 3‐km resolution of alongshore phytoplankton variability in the California Current during 1988–2010. The simulation benefits from downscaling a regional circulation reanalysis, which provides improved physical ocean state estimates in the high‐resolution domain. The emerging pattern is one of local upwelling intensification in response to increased alongshore wind stress in the lee of capes, modulated by alongshore meanders in the geostrophic circulation. While stronger upwelling occurs near most major topographic features, substantial increases in phytoplankton biomass only ensue where local circulation patterns are conducive to on‐shelf retention of upwelled nutrients. Locations of peak nutrient delivery and chlorophyll accumulation also exhibit interannual variability and trends noticeably larger than the surrounding shelf regions, thereby suggesting that long‐term planktonic ecosystem response in the California Current exhibits a significant local scale (O(100 km)) alongshore component.