IMIS

Publications | Institutes | Persons | Datasets | Projects | Maps
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

The spring bloom in the south western North Sea in 1989
Mills, D.K.; Tett, P.B.; Novarino, G. (1994). The spring bloom in the south western North Sea in 1989. Neth. J. Sea Res. 33(1): 65-80. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0077-7579(94)90052-3
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Mills, D.K.
  • Tett, P.B.
  • Novarino, G., more

Abstract
    During 1989, the North Sea Community Programme made monthly cruises to study physical, chemical and biological conditions at 110 sites in the southern North Sea. This paper describes events during the spring at two sites differing in their tidal stirring characteristics. In situ fluorometers moored at each site gave daily estimates of chlorophyll concentration in the surface mixed layer. At site CS (55°30'N, 0°55'E) the spring bloom was dominated by diatoms and coincided with the onset of seasonal stratification in late April. The fluorometer record showed that the bloom lasted about a week. At the more strongly stirred site AB (52°42'N, 2°25'E), the bloom was dominated by Phaeocystis and occurred in late May, after the termination of the fluorometer record. It was concluded that the greater optical thickness of the surface mixed layer was responsible for the later bloom at AB. Phaeocystis dominance may be explained by the greater depletion of silicate relative to nitrate at AB. It is suggested that the ending of the blooms depended on several factors, including nutrient limitation, sinking and protozoan grazing.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors