Surface Biomass Flux Across the Coastal Mississippi Shelf
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2016
School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Abstract
The exchange of water masses across the Mississippi shelf was used to determine the chlorophyll flux for an eight month period in 2013 through the major Mississippi River discharge period in Spring and Fall. Circulation models (NCOM and HYCOM) and SNPP satellite chlorophyll products were used to monitor the changes in the shelf transport and surface biological impact. The physical and biological response of cross shelf exchange was observed in rapidly changing dynamic movements of river plumes across the shelf as identified by the models and satellite products. Six sections on the shelf identified exchange corridors of transport and biomass chlorophyll flux of surface waters between the coast and offshore waters. During the eight month period, the nearshore waters show high carbon chlorophyll flux, averaging-60 x103 kg chl extending to offshore waters. However, at the outer shelf break, a significant carbon flux was observed moving shoreward onto the shelf from offshore waters, averaging +100 x103 kg chl, which is attributed to the dynamic Mississippi River plume. Results indicate a significant amount of offshore surface waters containing biological carbon can exchange across the shelf, clearly demonstrated through the combination of biological satellite products and physical models.
Publication Title
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume
9827
Recommended Citation
Arnone, R. A.,
Vandermeulen, R.,
Donaghay, P.,
Yang, H.
(2016). Surface Biomass Flux Across the Coastal Mississippi Shelf. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 9827.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19737
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