SeaWiFS The Meaning of Ocean Color The Role of Phytoplankton The Carbon Absorbing Oceans

What are phytoplankton? Why are phytoplankton important? How could a fisherman use phytoplankton data? Ocean Productivity Activity Coccolithophorid blooms in the Bering Sea Coccolithophorid blooms in the Celtic Sea Coccolithophore Bloom in the Eastern Bering Sea Coccolithophores are small marine phytoplankton which form very thin external calcium carbonate scales, called coccoliths. Coccoliths form multiple layers around each phytoplankton and eventually detach from it. Although each individual coccolithophore is microscopic in size, coccolithophores are the largest source of calcium carbonate (chalk) on Earth. The most abundant of the coccolithophore species can often be found from tropical to sub-Arctic regions, and further north into regions with water temperatures less than 0 degrees Centigrade. The following is an excerpt from a study conducted by Dr. Cynthia Tynan for the University of Washington: While conducting marine mammal surveys last July along the southeast Bering Sea shelf, aboard NOAA's R.V. Miller Freeman, we observed an extraordinary, warm water mass of intense aqua color, which we later learned was a coccolithophore bloom. The beautiful aqua water reminded us of a tropical coral reef setting, or a glacially-fed alpine lake, rather than the Bering Sea. We first encountered the aqua water on July 19 during a northerly transect along 161 34.6' W. Here we observed streaks or fingers of electric aqua water interleaving with darker water along a frontal zone. Over the next 10 days, during our north-south aligned transects on the shelf, we predictably crossed into and out of the aqua water, enabling us to map its position and extent. When approaching the aqua water, the reflection of the intense aqua color could be seen in the sky above the horizon more than 6 nm away. On July 29 while heading northward along 167 40.35' W we reached the western edge of the aqua water, a frontal zone again characterized by interleaving of aqua and darker bands or fingers. From these observations, we conclude that by the end of July, the coccolithophore bloom was approximately 200 km wide, east to west, and still 60 km east of St. George Island. Our surveys from the flying bridge will enable us to examine the distributions of cetaceans (humpback whales, fin whales, right whales, harbor porpoise, Dall's porpoise, killer whales) and fur seals relative to the productivity and unique characteristics of the coccolithophore bloom. Cynthia T. Tynan, Ph.D. Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean University of Washington

Earth Science Enterprise Home | For Kids Only! | ESE Homepage | NASA Homepage