Primary production and chlorophyll distributions in the subtropical and tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the autumn of 2002

Abstract

In October and November 2002, high and relatively high values of the chlorophyll a concentration at the sea surface (Cchl) were observed in the English Channel (0.47 mg/m3), in the waters of the North Atlantic Current (0.25 mg/m3), in the tropical and subtropical anticyclonic gyres (0.07–0.42 mg/m3), and also in the southwestern region of the southern subtropical anticyclonic gyre (usually 0.11–0.23 mg/m3). The central regions of the southern subtropical anticyclonic gyre (SATG) and the North Atlantic tropical gyre (NATR) were characterized by lower values of Cchl (0.02–0.08 mg/m3 for the SATG and 0.07–0.14 mg/m3 for the NATR). At most of the SATG stations, the values of the surface primary production (Cphs) varied from 2.5 to 5.5 mg C/m3 per day and were mainly defined by the fluctuations of Cchl (r = +0.78) rather than by those of the assimilation number (r = +0.54). The low assimilation activity of phytoplankton in these waters (1.3–4.6 mg chl a per hour) pointed to a lack of nutrients. An analysis of the variability of their concentration and the composition of photosynthetic pigments showed that, in the waters north of 30° N, the growth of phytoplankton was mostly restricted by the deficiency of nitrogen, while, in more southern areas, at the majority of stations (about 60%), the phosphorus concentrations were the minimum. At the low concentrations of nitrates and nitrites, ammonium represented itself as a buffer that prevented planktonic algae from extreme degrees of nitric starvation. In the tropical waters and in the waters of the SATG, the primary production throughout the water column varied from 240 to 380 mg C/m2 30° per day. This level of productivity at stations with low values of Cchl (<0.08 mg/m3) was provided by a well-developed deep chlorophyll maximum and a high transparency of the water. The light curves of photosynthesis based on in situ measurements point to the high efficiency of utilizing the penetrating solar radiation by phytoplankton on cloudy days.