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Modelling of autumn plankton bloom dynamics

Modelling of autumn plankton bloom dynamics
Modelling of autumn plankton bloom dynamics
A simple system of parametrically forced ordinary differential equations is used to model autumn phytoplankton blooms in temperate oceans by a mechanism involving deepening of the upper mixed layer. Blooms are triggered provided the increase in nutrients in the mixed layer is rapid within the first few days of deepening and provided light-limited phytoplankton growth rate is relatively high. Blooms exist as transient trajectories between quasi-equilibrium states, rather than as bifurcations of steady states; therefore very gradual deepening cannot trigger blooms. Very rapid deepening also prevents blooms due to the deleterious effect on phytoplankton growth rate. The mechanisms identified by this simple model are vindicated by considering alternative grazing and deepening regimes and by comparison with a more ecologically complex model (Fasham, 1993, in The Global Carbon Cycle, Springer-Verlag). Modelled estimates of primary productivity from both the simple model and the complex model parameterized for Ocean Weather Station ‘India’ are around 0.5 g C m–2 day–1 during the autumn bloom, therefore comprising a significant component of annual production in temperate areas.
0142-7873
209-220
Findlay, H.S.
c43c5e34-ffc9-46e1-8bce-4f51e3be55c1
Yool, A.
882aeb0d-dda0-405e-844c-65b68cce5017
Nodale, M.
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Pitchford, J.W.
aea9a0ba-117c-4d2b-8077-f409a1e7c2c7
Findlay, H.S.
c43c5e34-ffc9-46e1-8bce-4f51e3be55c1
Yool, A.
882aeb0d-dda0-405e-844c-65b68cce5017
Nodale, M.
d2bca8a9-a515-4c18-9388-f7ef62d92cc7
Pitchford, J.W.
aea9a0ba-117c-4d2b-8077-f409a1e7c2c7

Findlay, H.S., Yool, A., Nodale, M. and Pitchford, J.W. (2006) Modelling of autumn plankton bloom dynamics. Journal of Plankton Research, 28 (2), 209-220.

Record type: Article

Abstract

A simple system of parametrically forced ordinary differential equations is used to model autumn phytoplankton blooms in temperate oceans by a mechanism involving deepening of the upper mixed layer. Blooms are triggered provided the increase in nutrients in the mixed layer is rapid within the first few days of deepening and provided light-limited phytoplankton growth rate is relatively high. Blooms exist as transient trajectories between quasi-equilibrium states, rather than as bifurcations of steady states; therefore very gradual deepening cannot trigger blooms. Very rapid deepening also prevents blooms due to the deleterious effect on phytoplankton growth rate. The mechanisms identified by this simple model are vindicated by considering alternative grazing and deepening regimes and by comparison with a more ecologically complex model (Fasham, 1993, in The Global Carbon Cycle, Springer-Verlag). Modelled estimates of primary productivity from both the simple model and the complex model parameterized for Ocean Weather Station ‘India’ are around 0.5 g C m–2 day–1 during the autumn bloom, therefore comprising a significant component of annual production in temperate areas.

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Published date: 2006
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24568
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24568
ISSN: 0142-7873
PURE UUID: 7c70ef01-115a-47b9-a0ee-93126c81b154

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 29 Mar 2006
Last modified: 27 Apr 2022 08:45

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Contributors

Author: H.S. Findlay
Author: A. Yool
Author: M. Nodale
Author: J.W. Pitchford

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