PMEL Publications Abstract

FY 2009

Sea ice-derived dissolved iron and its potential influence on the spring algal bloom in the Bering Sea

Aguilar-Islas, A.M., R.D. Rember, C.W. Mordy, and J. Wu

Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L24601, doi: 10.1029/2008GL035736 (2008)

Observational and modeling studies in the Bering Sea indicate that changes in the seasonal ice cover and time of ice retreat influence open-water productivity. In particular, the timing of the spring bloom and its phytoplankton community composition are affected. Dissolved iron (DFe) data in the water column and ice cores collected during the 2007- Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST) cruise indicate that the melting ice provided substantial DFe to the water column. The additional DFe input from melting sea ice could be biologically important along the outer shelf and shelf break where in ice-free areas insufficient DFe (<1 nM) existed for the complete assimilation of available nitrate (>20 μM). Variability in sea ice dynamics are likely to result in a varying supply of DFe to the outer shelf and shelf break in early spring, and to contribute to the observed changes in the timing and community composition of the spring phytoplankton bloom.

Contact Ryan Layne Whitney |

Acronyms | Outstanding PMEL Publications


US Department of Commerce \| NOAA \| OAR \| PMEL Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory NOAA /R/PMEL 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle, WA 98115		Phone: (206) 526-6239 Fax: (206) 526-6815 Contacts Privacy Policy \| Disclaimer \| Accessibility Statement \| oar.pmel.webmaster@noaa.gov