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EOS 311 > Life in the pelagic realm: The Coastal and Open Ocean > Flashcards

Life in the pelagic realm: The Coastal and Open Ocean Flashcards

1
Q

Where do coastal waters extend?

A

Edge of continental shelf (<200m) to the estuaries . 7% ocean surface, <0.5% ocean volume

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2
Q

What are the characteristics of coastal waters?

A

Most biologically productive, nutrient rich and have high primary production, major role in biogeochemical cycling (Organic carbon, CaCo3, SiO2, gas exchange flux of C and N, total global production, most total global production, new production, denitrification) most fisheries

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3
Q

What other processes occur in coastal zone which affect the physical characteristics?

A

Shallowness, freshwater flow, tidal currents, upwelling events

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4
Q

What happens to nutrients at the river/estuary interface?

A

River flows over the seawater and nutrients are trapped at the interface which causes phytoplankton bloom and upwelling occurs

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5
Q

What causes river and estuarine plumes?

A

Increased turbidity and nutrient enrichment from materials carried by the river (particles, river-born nutrients), nutrient enrichment from entrainment and upwelling of nutrient-rich seawater, enhanced water column stability due to less dense freshwater layer over the denser ocean water layer

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6
Q

Why are estuaries important?

A

Very productive (lots of phytoplankton), nursery grounds for many species, economically relevant, salt-marshes and mangrove swamps

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7
Q

What are the characteristics of the North Atlantic?

A

Warmer (8.5C in winter), low nutrient levels in summer, no iron limitation (HCLN), lots of diatoms and photosynthetic dinoflagellates

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8
Q

What are the characteristics of the North Pacific?

A

Cold (3.8C in winter), high nutrient levels year round, iron limited (HNLC), lots of small photosynthetic flagellates, lots of microzooplankton

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9
Q

What is Line P?

A

A series of ocean weather sampling stations in the subarctic NE Pacific with 60 years of data

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10
Q

What is the difference between the NA copepod and NP copepod species?

A

NA migrates from surface to 500m depth several times throughout the year, deep water in winter, NP migrates to surface in spring/early summer, then migrates to 500m as an adult and for spawning

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11
Q

What are the ecosystem characteristics of NA?

A

Poor coupling of phyto. and zoo. cycles during growing season, high export of phytoplankton, large number of benthic fishes

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12
Q

What are the ecosystem characteristics of NP?

A

Close coupling of phyto. and zoo. cycles during growing season, low export of phytoplankton, larger number of pelagic fishes

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13
Q

What are the 2 study sites with long time-series of observations in subtropical gyre biomes?

A

HOTS (Hawaii), BATS (Bermuda)

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14
Q

What are characteristics of subtropical gyres?

A

Anti-cyclonic motion, convergent, surface layer 18C winter, 25C summer, season thermocline (50-70m), permanent thermocline (125m), water column stability, high nutrients below pycnocline, low/undetectable above

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15
Q

What are the rates of photosynthesis and nutrient concentration changes like in subtropical gyres?

A

Net PS positive to 125m, surface nitrate depleted up to that depth, surface phosphorous not quite depleted, oligotropic biomes, uses regenerated nutrients, deeper chl maximum

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16
Q

Why is there a low chl maximum in subtropic gyres?

A

Low vertical mixing of nutrients upwards through pycnoline, 60% phytoplankton biomass at depth is cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus)

17
Q

What adds N2 to subtropical gyres?

A

N2 fixation by Trichodesmium and other cyanobacteria (mostly in Sargasso Sea)

18
Q

What supples Fe in Sargasso Sea?

A

Aeolian dust from North Africa which supports N2 fixation, then P becomes exhausted

19
Q

What is the ratio of N:P in Sargasso Sea and NPCG?

A

Sargasso Sea: 17:1, NPCG: 15:1 due to differences in N2 fixation

20
Q

What does grazing due?

A

Keeps production almost exactly in balance by consuming all increase in biomass

21
Q

What are the characteristics of NPCG/Sargasso mesozooplankton?

A

Continuously active, no seasonal rest phase, diverse but present in low biomass

22
Q

What are the normal conditions for the Western equatorial pacific?

A

Low pressure and rising air, cloudy and rainy

23
Q

What are the normal conditions for the Eastern equatorial pacific?

A

High pressure and sinking air, clear and dry weather?

24
Q

What do pressure differences between WEP and EEP do?

A

Cause strong SW trade winds which move water from E to W and upwelling along Peruvian coast and PAcific warm pool on western Pacific

25
Q

What is ENSO?

A

Irregular shift in ocean/atmosphere characteristics every 2-10years

26
Q

What are the effects of ENSO?

A

Alternation between warm and cold phases (12-18months/years) in atmosphere/ocean, strong local effects (productivity, fisheries yield, marine mammals and birds, weather patterns), global climate, benefits and consequences

27
Q

What happens during el nino?

A

Warmer temperatures

28
Q

What happens during la nina?

A

Colder temperatures

29
Q

What is the ENSO index?

A

Index determining whether we are in El Nino or La Nina. Calculated using weighted average of atmospheric/oceanic factors (atmospheric pressure, winds, sea surface temperatures)

30
Q

What are the effects of mild and severe el nino?

A

Mild: affects only equatorial SP, Sever: alter atmospheric jet stream and weather worldwide. Drought (W), forest first, coastal erosion, marine impact, flood (E)

31
Q

What is TAO?

A

Monitors equatorial pacific with ~70 moored buoys with realtime data to detect and understand el nino and la nina

32
Q

When do La Nina’s occur relative to El Nino’s?

A

Usually the year after

33
Q

What are the conditions in La Nina?

A

Cooler temperatures, weaker winds,

34
Q

What ENSO index indicates strong El Nino or La Nina?

A

2 (El Nino), -1.5 (La Nina)

35
Q

What is the dominant copepod in the North Atlantic?

A

Calanus finmarchicus

36
Q

What is the dominant copepod in the North Pacific?

A

Neocalanus plumchrus,

EOS 311 (16 decks)

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