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Interannual Variation in Phytoplankton Concentration and Community in the Pacific OceanClimate events such as El Nino have been shown to have an effect on the biology of our ocean. Because of the lack of data, we still have very little knowledge about the spatial and temporal effect these climate events may have on biological marine systems. In this study, we used the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) to assess the interannual variability in phytoplankton community in the Pacific Ocean between 1998 and 2005. In the North Central and Equatorial Pacific Ocean, changes in the Multivariate El Nino Index were associated with changes in phytoplankton composition. The model identified an increase in diatoms of approx.33 % in the equatorial Pacific in 1999 during a La Nina event. This increase in diatoms coincided with a decrease of approx.11 % in cyanobacteria concentration. The inverse relationship between cyanobacteria and diatoms concentration was significant (p<0.05) throughout the period of study. The use of a numerical model allows us to assess the impact climate variability has on key phytoplankton groups known to lead to contrasting food chain at a spatial and temporal resolution unachievable when relying solely on in-situ observations.
Document ID
20110015392
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rousseaux, C. S. (Universities Space Research Association Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Gregg, W. W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Subject Category
Oceanography
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.ABS.4672.2011
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2011 World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Open Source Conference (OSC)
Location: Denver, CO
Country: United States
Start Date: October 24, 2011
End Date: October 28, 2011
Sponsors: World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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