Oral Session 6
Wednesday, October 9
09:30–11:10
10:50-11:10 | ABSTRACT 901
Seasonal variations of the phytoplankton bloom in the northwestern Weddell Sea using satellite and in situ data
The seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton blooms in polar regions present a significant challenge for understanding ecosystem functioning. This is primarily due to limited in situ data coverage across all seasons because of adverse meteorological conditions, particularly during winter, and problematic cloud and ice coverage affecting visible spectrum satellite data. In this study, we investigate the seasonal variations of the phytoplankton blooms in the northwestern sector of the Weddell Sea, utilizing satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration data in conjunction with in situ measurements from BioGeoChemical (BGC) Argo floats. Additionally, we assess and compare the former observations with output data from available open-access biogeochemical reanalysis products. Discrepancies between seasonal patterns depicted by the reanalysis products and existing observations underscore the necessity for further modeling efforts and observational data collection in the study area. Our analyses, combining satellite and in situ data, present the phenology and spatial scales of the phytoplankton blooms in the northwest Weddell Sea for the first time. Future work will involve assessing the thermohaline and water mass structure of the water column supporting the timing of these phytoplankton blooms utilizing a historical database of hydrographic transects in the area, moving forward towards a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem dynamics in polar regions.
*Marina Gutiérrez-García, Oceanografía Física y Geofísica Aplicada (OFYGA), ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5809-9048
Tania Pereira-Vázquez, Oceanografía Física y Geofísica Aplicada (OFYGA), ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0922-5340
Alex Ruiz-Urbaneja, Oceanografía Física y Geofísica Aplicada (OFYGA), ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5365-7323
Borja Aguiar-González, Oceanografía Física y Geofísica Aplicada (OFYGA), ECOAQUA, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2064-1724
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