Are the satellite-observed narrow, streaky chlorophyll filaments locally intensified by the submesoscale processes?

TL;DRAbstract

Based on observations and modeling studies we have evaluated the impact of submesoscale processes on the development and intensification of offshore narrow (5-10km wide) phytoplankton filaments during summer time in the Monterey Bay, CA. We have demonstrated that, submesoscale processes (surface frontogenesis and nonlinear Ekman transport) lead to the development of very productive phytoplankton patches along the edges between the cold jet and warm anticyclonic eddy. Our results illustrate that during persistent upwelling favorable winds, submesoscale processes can modulate the development and intensification of offshore narrow (5-10km wide) phytoplankton filaments. These processes can incubate the phytoplankton population offshore (as for example, bioluminescent dinoflagellates during August 2003). These offshore phytoplankton filaments can migrate onshore during relaxed winds following the upwelling, and be an additional source of phytoplankton bloom development in and around Montere

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