The impact of sea ice on the initiation of the spring bloom on the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves |
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Authors: | Wu Yongsheng; Peterson Ingrid K; Tang Charles C L; Platt Trevor; Sathyendranath Shubha; Fuentes-Yaco Cesar |
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Institution: | 1 Coastal Ocean Science, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada B2Y 4A2
2 Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK |
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Abstract: | The relationship between sea ice and the phytoplankton springbloom over the Newfoundland and Labrador shelves is examinedusing remotely-sensed chlorophyll data and sea-ice data forthe period 19982004. A regression analysis between thetwo data sets shows that the retreat of sea ice precedes thespring bloom, and the inter-annual variation of the spring bloomis closely correlated with the start time of ice retreat. Thespring bloom off Canada's east coast usually starts on the easternGrand Banks. Here, the water properties are strongly influencedby sea ice on the Newfoundland shelves in early spring whenaccelerated ice melting causes the ice edge to retreat northand the melt water is advected south by the Labrador Current.After the ice retreat, the water on the eastern Grand Banksis rapidly stratified and the mixed layer shallows as a resultof surface freshening. The shallow mixed layer promotes phytoplanktongrowth. The regression analysis also reveals that an early springbloom or ice retreat tends to prolong the duration of the springbloom. |
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