Three University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) scientists have discovered that planetary waves traveling thousands of miles have a significant impact on the abundance of phytoplankton in the upper ocean, and may play a role in predicting global warming.
In a recent issue of Nature, biological oceanographers Mete Uz and James Yoder and physical oceanographer Vladimir Osychny reported on their two-year analysis of satellite-derived data on chlorophyll and sea-surface-height. The data shows that planetary waves, waves that travel in a westward direction in the oceans, are associated with five to 20 percent of the variability in chlorophyll concentration. The scientists theorize that disturbances in the ocean caused by these waves are bringing nutrients to surface waters on a global scale and affecting the production of phytoplankton.
Advances in satellite technology have allowed scientists to observe and study such phenomena as they can now view the Earths bodies of water as a global system of connected oceans.
Uz and his collaborators used ocean color data from NASAs SeaWiFS program and concentrated on the role of large planetary, or Rossby, waves in enhanced biological productivity. These enormously wide, slow moving waves, are only a few centimeters in height, making them observable only through satellite imagery. A Rossby wave can be hundreds of miles wide, but moves so slowly that it could take months or years for it to cross the ocean. As this wave passes, it causes water motion that pumps more nutrients from the depths to the surface waters of the ocean.
A unique component of this study is the use of wave physics to help explain a biological phenomenon.
"For physical oceanography, this study presents one more tool with which to observe Rossby waves, especially their vertical dynamics," said Uz. "For biology, it illustrates for the first time a wave propagating through an ecosystem. This means that
'"/>
Contact: Lisa Cugini
lcugini@gso.uri.edu
401-874-6642
University of Rhode Island
24-Apr-2001