Color banding on Georges Bank as viewed by coastal zone color scanner

Abstract

Observations of Georges Bank by coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) show bandlike patterns that appear to be related to the large sand dunes and ridges which dominate the bottom topography there. Ship measurements of temperature and chlorophyll on Georges Bank in July 1979 also reflect the influence of the underwater dune fields. The cause of the banding in the CZCS data is unknown but is speculated to be the creation of alternating zones of divergence and convergence by tidal currents as the water flows over the underwater dune‐trough configuration. The banding observed by CZCS appears to be seasonal, following the sequence of primary production in the Gulf of Maine, and is believed to be important to biological processes as a site of new production and/or as an effective transport mechanism. Any future models that attempt to interrelate tidal mixing and primary production must consider bottom topography and secondary flows.