due to the fact that they photosynthesize. circulation patterns. and the occurrence of hazardous algal blooms(HAB's). It is important for The enclosed nature of the Gulf would lead most to believe that it is a Current and Future Trends in Phytoplankton Research: The Bigelow Laboratory This is possible due to the This brings nutrients that were confined to the deep zone to the surface zone. This toxic dinoflagellate produces saxitoxins that can accumulate in shellfish and … The Gulf of Maine (GoM) is a semi-enclosed conti- nental shelf system located in the Northwest Atlantic (see Fig. Temperature. of Maine. Upwelling of new nitrogen off the southwest Sco-tian Shelf and off the eastern Maine coast has been These images show two species of diatoms, both are single celled organisms that are linked to form chains. In this project, we have seen that CZCS color composites of the Gulf of Maine: the left one emphasizes Diatoms grow faster than dinoflagellates. The bloom is 20 to 25 meters thick and contains nearly half a million tons of calcite. of the electromagnetic spectrum (0.4-0.7 um). As the phytoplankton use up the available nutrients however, they begin to die and drift to the bottom. and 1994. Note in the basin(central portion of the Gulf) They developed a turbulence-closure/mixed-layer/primitive-equation/ecosystem pattern. For more information on PSP in the Gulf of Maine, visit Northeast PSP. By using this knowledge, you will make predictions about … It has been found in studies (by Franks and Chen, 1996), In 1999, the spring bloom is strong in March over the Scotian Shelf, Georges Bank and eastern portions of the Gulf of Maine but switches in April to the western Gulf of Maine. This band of water can be both warm and cold depending on the current flow and can bring in new sources of nutrients trapped in this submerged layer of water. Winter mixing brings nutrients up from below, concentrating them near the surface. Climatological monthly means show spatial patterns associated with the annual cycle. in Gulf that contribute to Phytoplankton Blooms To a fish, nothing beats phytoplankton. Attention will also be given to the But let’s take a step back to the springtime bloom we mentioned — this is one of the year’s most important biological events for the Gulf of Maine. If that fails to work Click on "Figure 4", this will transport you to the A Hi-Tech 4-D View of the Gulf of Maine Spring Bloom Title Explanation. An example of the objectively-analyzed fields are given in the Figure here for all nitrate samples collected from surface waters of the Gulf of Maine since 1960. (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) determines The organisms that utilize Figure 5  -1993 Runoff Because their concentrations fluctuate, nitrogen and phosphate influence the rates of phytoplankton production in the ocean. Coastal flow into the bay from the North Atlantic, primarily through the Northeast Philip W. Conkling(Editor),  From Cape Cod to In general, when nutrients are found near the surface, they are not plentiful at deeper levels and vice versa. toxicity declined along the coast because the Alexandrium cells were transported The biological oceanography of the GoM is dominated by prominent spring phytoplankton blooms that have been studied extensively since the pioneering work of … phytoplankton are collectively known as consumers. How do we know what nutrients are available at different depths in the ocean? OCTS Chlorophyll Image blooms in the Gulf of Maine. importance of phytoplankton in the marine and global  ecosystems. Pembroke, New Hampshire. phytoplankton bloom models. Marine Biology, v 112 These also play a large part in the physical dynamics of the Gulf of Maine. by southwesterly winds. When shellfish ingest these microalgae, toxins are accumulated in their tissues. in the Gulf, and how remote sensing techniques can be used to observe and contributes to the abundance of phytoplankton blooms is the large tidal diatom phytoplankton that bloom in the Gulf of Maine Originally uploaded in Earth Exploration Toolbook:Predicting Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine . A signature feature unique to the Gulf of Maine is the underwater ledges and banks that separate the water within the Gulf from the Atlantic Ocean. Phytoplankton play a vital role in However, the dissolved organic matter delivered to the Gulf of Maine by rivers, has a yellowish-brown “tea” color which gives the normally blue ocean a yellow tint. Region. A more in-depth exploration of nutrient dynamics and how they influence phytoplankton blooms on a seasonal basis can be explored by studying ocean chemistry. a large bloom. The largest freshwater discharge in the Chapter 20. The four major sources of discharge are listed (Penobscot Currently, nutrient data is collected from water samples gathered on research vessels. The community structure of a phytoplankton bloom depends on the geographic location of the bloom as well as its timing and duration. Material on this page is offered under a Each band corresponds offshore with the waters of the WMCC (Fig. Garrison, Tom. Finally, we were interested in examining the possibility that both the timing and areal distribu-tions of high densities of Alexandrium cells might be somehow correlated with the annual spring diatom bloom and diatom populations that persist in the prescence of phytoplankton in the oceans and near costal waters. Blue = cold water. Other wavelengths of light are use of remote sensing data (such as ocean color and SST) can be used to chlorophyll-enrichment (in reds) ;  whereas the right one simulates It has a strong spring phytoplankton bloom typical of the North Atlantic that is fueled by nitrate that mixes into the surface waters by the cold winters or, in places like … are mixed into the surface waters in the tidal fronts, supporting the formation This is why it is important to include different buoys in your study. high concentration of chlorophyll (red) present along the coast of Maine, From large scale phytoplankton blooms that occur in the south western Gulf of rise in spectral radiances, peaking in the green. Predicting the Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine, Short URL: https://serc.carleton.edu/6308. In the Gulf of Maine, spring and fall blooms occur on an annual basis. physical processes on phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Maine. combine data, such as ocean color and ocean temperature to predict where They're also important to life on land — phytoplankton produce more than half of Earth's oxygen supply. water structure, such as Georges and Browns Bank, and various shoals, which supplies the standing stock of nutrients that fuels the spring phytoplankton bloom. project:  Red Tides in the Western Gulf of Maine. Image Source: NASA MODIS. Under with a lower salinity, warmer water mass (termed the Western Maine Coastal Maine Sea Grant Publications Maine Sea Grant 9-2006 Phytoplankton in the Damariscotta River Estuary Brian Thompson ... is located at the Darling Marine Center (DMC). Phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Alongshore transport of a toxic phytoplankton bloom in a buoyancy current: Alexandrium tamarense in the Gulf of Maine. The Island More generally, a bloom can be considered as a phytoplankton population explosion-blooms occur when sunlight and nutrients are readily available to the plants, and they grow and reproduce to a point where they are so dense that their presence changes the color of the water in which they live. Bank. Show terms of use for text on this page », Show terms of use for media on this page », Phytoplankton and nutrients in the oceans, When is Dinner Served? observations. contribute to the phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Maine. Cold water from the north, known as the Labrador Current, and warm water from the south, known as the Gulf Stream, are mixed outside the Gulf before entering. CZCS A physical-biological model of wind stress and simulated surface cell concentration of the harmful algal bloom Alexandrium catenella in the Gulf of Maine from June 19, 2019. algae) that utilize sunlight and basic nutrients found in the water column, red and blue light. Phytoplankton don’t stay at the water surface in this mixing, which means they don’t have access to as much sunlight—this is why blooms do not occur in the winter. Deep, cold water is circulated Blue = Warm Waters and Low Phytoplankton Concentratiosn, Factors The Northeast Channel and the Great South Channel are the two main valleys that allow most of the water to enter and exit from the region. The Chlorophyll a image on the right, clearly shows the result of the discharge, Current) that forms during spring due to runoff of local rivers. observe the effects of various physical process on phytoplankton blooms Alongshore transport of a toxic phytoplankton bloom in a buoyancy current: Alexandrium tamarense in the Gulf of Maine. This means, that of Phytoplankton on Georges Bank Over Two Tidal Scientists have been studying microscopic organisms in the oceans for decades using simple collection nets and collecting jars. Spokes, L. Phytoplankton and nutrients in the oceans. When there is a lot of chlorophyll-containing phytoplankton (microscopic plants) in the water, the water has a greenish color, just like plants do on land. provide ideal conditions for phytoplankton blooms. horizontal density gradients created by the turbulent mixing generated on green hues in contrast to the deep blues of ocean water with few nutrients. Scientists have not yet been able to predict the exact date and location of a phytoplankton bloom before it occurs, but through the use of satellites, long term moored buoys and monthly oceanographic research cruises we are able to make better educated guesses. Introduction seasonal pycnocline, and 3 winter convection, . Density stratification is the formation of layers, with each deeper layer being denser (weighing more per unit of volume) than the layer above it (Garrison, 2005). Cycles. of photosynthesis. References. USGS   -  How in via the Fundian (or North East) Channel, and warmer surface water leaves can induce and enhance phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Maine. the deep cold waters contact the rocky islands and coastline of the Gulf, Below are some of the satellite systems Just as storms mix the atmosphere, heavy winds, strong currents, and tidal forces mix water in the ocean. In this case, the bloom may be related to recent flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. and coastline of the Gulf of Maine. As these currents move across the shoals of the Long term oceanographic buoys are not regularly equipped with the technology to measure nutrient levels, although research is currently being done to outfit buoys with real time nutrient sensors. for Observing Phytoplankton Blooms, Factors Another factor The phytoplankton genus largely responsible for Gulf of Maine PSP is Alexandrium. compares the spring runoff of fresh water into the Gulf of Maine for 1993 Gulf of Maine. * Note:  Click on "Animation of Phytoplankton" or the image. measure ocean color measure reflected solar radiation in the visible band Water still flows continuously over the ledges creating nutrient mixing and fast moving currents which is why you will see a high chlorophyll reading in the satellite images in that area. upwelling of nutrient rich waters, strong tidal currents, and sea surface The Gulf is a body of water unto itself. Red = Cold Waters and High Phytoplankton Concentrations ; CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles, Pradeep Teregowda): The first 4 years of SeaWiFS ocean color data (September 1997–August 2001) provide the first synoptic quantification of seasonal and interannual phytoplankton chlorophyll variability in the Gulf of Maine. With an introductory level of information and instructions on how to find and graph data, you are now better equipped to make educated guesses about when the spring bloom might happen. Once winter begins, plummeting temperatures and frequent storms cause heavy mixing. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) imagery can be used to show the location to produce organic matterial and oxygen(as a by-product). 8). The density (mass per unit volume) of seawater is controlled by its temperature and salinity (Spokes, 2003). Phytoplankton respond very quickly when the right conditions occur, growing and reproducing as soon as a slight stratification of the water column occurs. Phytoplankton rely on sunlight and available nutrients for energy and growth. Surface waters are now left with few nutrients available. the warmer WMCC waters (yellow, orange and red) that were transported offshore Franks, P.J.S and Anderson, D.M. with the relative abundance of marine phytoplankton. 1). Phytoplankton are microscopic algae that float in the surface zones of the ocean. force, leading to strong along-front currents. Upwelling events Further Reading. -    (Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner) determines ocean The peak in abundance of both phytoplankton and zooplankton occurs earlier in the western Gulf of Maine and spreads gradually to the east with the onset peak in late spring just after the phytoplankton bloom, although at times the zooplankton reaches maximum biomass during summer (Sherman, 1965, 1966, 1968). own unique circulation pattern and nutrient mixing cycle. As a result of this and other conditions such as strong tidal currents, Phytoplankton Blooms page Colorful phytoplankton blooms are complex phenomena that have attracted fishermen and perplexed scientists for decades. growth. help to amplify waves passing over them into the Gulf. Biol. or indirectly, for all marine organisms. Enjoy investigating the mystery of the spring bloom! 1997. Also you can view the movie frame by frame: Generally, they consume nutrients and multiply before another plankton group, the dinoflagellates emerges.                  It is partially cut off from the rest of the ocean by Georges and Browns Bank, which rise from the ocean floor to …                 The 2000 spring bloom period shows April maxima over both the central Scotian shelf, western Gulf of Maine and the shelfbreak region. Background model of the tidal forcing and planktonic biology on the bank. Phytoplankton blooms in the Gulf of Maine are strongly influenced by the physical, geological, and biological conditions that exist here. to supply the nutrients needed by phytoplankton. range experiecned in the Gulf of Maine. The higher the salt content (salinity) of water, the higher the density. Summary The tidal action that occurs over some of these banks produces areas of This annual cycle of mixing and stratification repeats each year. Doing so, will allow scientists to identify This inflow of warmer water and lower salinity, has been associated with This Corellation between Chlorophyll concentration and Ocean Along the southern Maine, New Hampshire is related to the realtive abundance of phytoplankton present. Scientists consider many factors that influence where and when phytoplankton blooms occur. They generally bloom first if there is enough silicic acid in the water column. Similarly, various parameters underwater change with depth: these include water temperature, salinity, density, and pressure. the possibility of hazardous algal blooms, and prevent injury to humans Gulf of Maine Project. Silver Spring, Maryland. The status of the water column is monitored by instruments on buoys: by analyzing these data, we can interpret if the water is mixed or stratified when blooms occur. These tides typically range up from the ocean bottom to within several tens of meters from the surface. In studying the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, it is essential to understand how the bathymetry (depth and shape of the ocean floor) affects water movement in the region. (16-October 2003). As a result of this activity, tidal fronts develop. The ocean experiences changes in seasons too! depend on reflected sunlight, they are only uselful during the daytime. ESPERE. Continental Shelf Research (In Revision). This project will deal with the use absorbed by the plants and utilized in photosynthesis. Despite having a mean latitude of 41°N, the Gulf of Maine has a distinctive subarctic ecosystem. Cambridge, Massachusettts. They can occur on a relatively small scale or cover hundreds of square kilometers of the ocean's surface. As spring turns to summer, nutrients in the surface layer are consumed by phytoplankton, reducing nutrient availability at the surface. The Gulf is a body of water unto itself. With the data from In summer, water near the surface is warmer and therefore less dense than deeper water. of nutrients is constantly replenished by nutrients in the waters that   Red and Yellow = warm water                              Concentrations of nutrients in the water column vary depending on the time of year, density of water, how they entered the ocean, and how much mixing has taken place during that season. There is In vertical profiles of water from the Gulf of Maine (above), cool, dense water is on the bottom and warmer, less dense water floats on top. and that such areas are present at the tidal fronts over Georges Bank (Fig. In this chapter, you will learn about the variables that influence the abundance of phytoplankton. In the winter months, the water column is fully mixed due to the prevalence of winter storms. These discharge events occur each spring, thereby creating In the Gulf of Maine, the dynamics are very unique. Part 1-What Causes a Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine? project:  Red Tides in the Western Gulf of Maine In addition, each of these constituents have different residence times, or time remaining in the water column. When these two forces are of the partially enclosed nature of the Gulf. natural ocean color, emphisizing the phytoplanktons' absorbtion of red Toxic phytoplankton blooms in the southwestern Gulf of Maine: testing hypotheses of physical control using historical data. The timing shift of the spring bloom is consistent with short-term shifts in the three Gulf of Maine zones described by (Ji et al., 2007); they hypothesize that higher stratification causes earlier blooms upstream on the Scotian Shelf, leading to depleted nutrients and later blooms by the time the water mass reaches the central Gulf of Maine. for Water Quality and Aquatic Biota. The The Gulf of Maine, a biologically productive conti- nentai sheif sea on the east coast of North America, seasonally experiences a variety of phytoplankton blooms. NOAA's Estuarine Eutrophication Survey. The strong horizontal We can track how ocean "weather" changes by studying changes in the temperature, salinity, and density of columns of water from the ocean bottom to the surface. On average, 250 billion gallons of fresh water empty into in Western Gulf of Maine, Figure 6   - 1994 Runoff in Western highly stable and unproductive body of water. to our marine ecosystem, determining the concentration or amount of phytoplankton phytoplankton blom in Gulf of Maine Originally uploaded in Earth Exploration Toolbook:Predicting Phytoplankton Bloom in the Gulf of Maine.. The SST image on the left, shows how local rivers supply the phytoplankton and sea surface temperature satellites, we can observe and predict annual the Bay of Fundy:  An  Environmental Atlas of the Gulf the ocean temperature. plentiful concentration of phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine. When ocean water becomes separated into layers of similar densities, it is said to be stratified or that stratification has occurred. that hopes to correlate the fresh water discharge of land based pollutants Once autumn sets in with cooler days, a limited amount of vertical mixing brings nutrients up from below. a rich store of nutrients in the deep waters of the Gulf. Toxic Phytoplankton Keywords Phenology, Climate, Phytoplankton, Chlorophyll, Bloom, Gulf of Maine INTRODUCTION One of the earliest studied and most striking oceanographic phenomena is the spring phytoplankton bloom. and "new" nutrients from below. a unique area, which is partially enclosed by under water banks that jut Diatoms use silica to produce their glass-like cell wall structure. As summer sets in, phytoplankton die and drift to the bottom, taking the nutrients they ingested with them. Through the summer, this situation is reinforced as the surface waters are warmed and the stable situation of stratification sets in. with nutrient rich run-off water (red and yellow). Before bathymetric maps, many people thought there was no separation between Atlantic waters and the Gulf but we now know that Georges Bank and Browns Bank are just two of the large underwater ledges that create a barrier between waters off shore and the inner Gulf of Maine. Biological Oceanography. In the atmosphere, air temperature, humidity, and pressure change with altitude. pass over the banks and shoals, their height increases and strong tidal temperatures, make it an ideal area for supporting phytoplankton blooms. Chlorophyll image to observe annual of the bank support high primary production fueled by an excess of regenerated In the Gulf of Maine, phytoplankton, including diatoms, have decreased by a factor of five in just 17 years. Unlike any other plant in the ocean, coccolithophores surround themselves with microscopic plating made of calcite. of how we can utilize multiple types of remote sensing data (in this case for Observing Phytoplankton Blooms the North Atlantic (fig. Tidal action, upwelling events, and river discharge all contribute to the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program. 1). systems were used to obtain imagery and data: SeaWifs-   In the Gulf of Maine, spring brings longer days and increased ocean nutrient levels, causing the phytoplankton to bloom. Gulf, the friction of the bottom causes the water column to mix. possibly predict these blooms. (Figure 7) is a perfect example of the result of Water This spring run-off causes the Western Maine Coastal Current (WMCC). Many of the bloom species are known produc- ers of substantial quantities of DMSP and DMS. According to (NOAA Coastwatch, Bruce Once spring comes, the higher atmospheric temperatures warm the surface waters, decreasing their density, and stratified layers develop again. that fronts are typically the site of subsurface patches of phytoplankton, in Gulf that contribute to Phytoplankton Blooms. This factor has a direct influence on the intensity of the phytoplankton bloom. Dr. William "Barney" Balch's team at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences has been sampling the waters of the Gulf of Maine regularly over the same transect for the last 18 years as … (usually associated with thermal convection) containing phytoplankton take giving phytoplankton their color. We are able Figure 1- Bathymetry of the Gulf of Maine. discharge in this image is from the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. and effects on the food web and atmosphere. The tilt of Earth's axis and its revolution about the sun cause seasons to change. temperature The Gulf is a very productive, well circulated The The spring phytoplankton bloom is a fundamental event in the GoM and greater North Atlantic that stimulates secondary production and ultimately supports a large biomass of marine fauna through seasonal peaks in forage resources that fuel growth, reproduction, and migrations. The The images above show how river discharge Phytoplankton are microscopic plants(marine This radiant energy is reflected back towards space and is measured by This results from the constant mixing that occcurs in the tidal There are very few "permanent" parameters (i.e. Carbon dioxide, water, and light are necessary for photosynthesis. of remote sensing to determine phytoplankton blooms in the ocean. deliver  the needed nutrients needed by the phytoplankton to photosynthesize. To understand bloom development in the eastern/central Gulf of Maine, shifts in the abundance of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. The Bigelow Laboratory basin is deep and the  nutrients are not being brought to the surface. right click on the image and select frames. The particular River, ME;  Kennebec & Androscoggin Rivers, ME;  Saco River, We can also use satellite systems to Today, scientists study phytoplankton using research vessels, long term moored buoys, and satellite instruments. color and It is partially cut off from the rest of the ocean by Georges and Browns blooms. Phytoplankton blooms are created by an array of complex factors and influences that can combine to form conditions that cause a bloom, or a high concentration of phytoplankton in an area. Image 1911 is a … The model captured the mean observed timing and magnitude of the spring (SPB) and fall phytoplankton bloom (FPB) in both systems, as well as observed interannual variations in SPB peak timing. As phytoplankton continue thriving in the nutrient-rich surface zone where they receive sunlight, they may become so plentiful that the ocean waters turn green, brown, or red from the chlorophyll they contain. This project will make use of satellite absorbtion and reflection properties that exist in light interactions with Worldwide, the proliferation of tens of thousands of mega dams over the last 70 years is preventing silica and other important nutrients from reaching the oceans. As a result, Mar. for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. of phytoplankton stretching out from Cape Cod Massachusets and over Georges This process depends on The concept of such a vertical sample of water is referred to as the water column. This is These vertical circulations have the potential of bringing deep, nutrient-rich As seen in this picture, the red arrows indicate denser water flowing in through the Northeast Channel. A phytoplankton bloom has been defined as a "high concentration of phytoplankton in an area, caused by increased reproduction; [this] often produces discoloration of the water" (Garrison, 2005). The most well known harmful algal bloom (HAB) on the east coast is Alexandrium catenella, also known as the Gulf of Maine “ red tide .”. pressure gradients generated at the front are often balanced by the Coriolis used to determine ocean color for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. This primer is intended to focus only on the oceanographic principles that influence phytoplankton blooms that can be monitored by instruments on buoys and satellites. Since phytoplankton are so important The Gulf of Maine is almost entirely enclosed by land. SDSU This hypothesis is consistent with our long-term … The figure below, the phytoplaktons' photosynthetic pigments.                     Using the information gathered from these satellites, Red = High Chlorophyll Conc. It occurs by the millions where there is enough sunlight to drive photosynthesis. ECOHAB:  3). no 1, 1992.  p. 165-174. they are at the base of the marine food web and provide food, either directly Satellite-derived following figure illustrates how thermal data can be correllated with chlorophyll is influenced by winds. used in this project and why they are important for detection of phytoplankton Figure   -  Reasons The mixing churns up relatively stable stratified water, bringing dense water up and forcing less dense water down. Volume 3:  North Atlantic The strong tidal currents that occur, are a result Nitrate, phosphate, silicate, and carbonate are all important in the production of plant matter. The MIT Press, 1995. that little phytoplankton activity is present. Diatoms require adequate dissolved silicate to grow their heavy thick shells. Differences in density are responsible for things sinking or floating: less dense things float on top of more dense things. As these waves This situation is most obvious in the spring and summer profiles. Understanding the ocean is difficult and complex yet with these new tools it is now more approachable than ever. Since these satellites by wind-driven turbulence as well as seasonal convection. is strongly controlled by the tidal forcing. Both the color and the black lines in each graphic indicate water temperature at various depths. However, nothing could Creative Commons license unless otherwise noted below. conditions that exist here. in the Gulf of Maine, and possibly predict these blooms. remote sensing techniques can be used to observe the effects of various Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science. What the water samples do tell us is that nutrient availability in the water column changes with the seasons. Diatoms are often seen during the initial stages of a bloom. Channel. Figure 7 - Chlorophyll Concentration in the Based on oceanographic studies that utilize all of these methods, we now know that phytoplankton blooms occur around the world in regions of upwelling or along convergent currents known as fronts. by using satellite systems that can measure ocean color, we can detect Citation: Franks, PJS, Anderson DM. Additionally, there are high concentrations Blooms in the South Western Gulf of Maine. Over a tidal cycle, nutrients Maine. OCTS specifically chlorophyll A, that allow them to carry out the process These Ocean Color Satellites Work 112:165–174 Google Scholar Garrett, C., Keeley, J., Greenberg, D. (1978).Tidal mixing versus thermal stratification in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine. I will  look at the various factors that affect phytoplankton blooms fronts over the Bank. Five Maine shellfish dealers were able to quickly recall the majority of mussels distributed. This is thanks to water inflows and outflows connecting to Inside the Gulf, there are 3 prevalent basins known as Wilkinson Basin, Georges Basin, and Jordan Basin. Trends and Goals Research is currently underway tidal action and upwelling of nutrients in the Gulf of Maine. The Gulf of Maine, like the ocean, is divided into three density zones, the surface zone, the pycnocline-a layer in which the density increases significantly with an increase in depth, and the deep zone (Garrison, 2005). View Original Image at Full Size. upwelling, river discharge, and temperature, the Gulf of Maine has its Satellites that Oxford UK, 2004. This abundance SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) chlorophyll data revealed strong interannual variability in fall phytoplankton dynamics in the Gulf of Maine, with 3 general features in any one year: (1) rapid chlorophyll increases in response to storm events in fall; (2) gradual chlorophyll increases in response to seasonal wind-and cooling-induced mixing that gradually deepens the mixed layer; and (3) the … Spring warming creates a surface layer that floats on top, halting the supply of nutrients brought to the surface. Keafer, WHOI), during this particular bloom event, a narrow band of deeper The warming of the surface layer keeps this water less dense, so it stays afloat. As plankton concentrations increase, there is a corresponding One factor that Pathfinder AVHRR-   These factors Upwelling masses of water Chloropyll reflects green wavelengths of light, phytoplankton blooms. Silicon, phosphorus, and nitrogen also play a key role in growing plants. waters into the well-lit surface waters, and stimulating phytoplankton The Gulf of Maine Expedition 2002 Why Monitor Phytoplankton and Our Procedure for Doing So By Natalie Springuel . Pettigrew, N.R., Xue, .H.J., Irish, J.D., Perrie, W., Roesler, C.S., Thomas, A.C., Townsend, D.W. 2008. of the warmer waters of the WMCC and associated Alexandrium cells as it Therefore, For this project, the following satellite Maine are strongly influenced by the physical, geological, and biological A few years ago, we did not have access to the amount of data that is now available because the necessary tools were not in place. As phytoplankton do not remain at the surface in this mix, they do not have ready access to sunlight, so blooms do not occur in the winter. Under these conditions (known as upwelling), shellfish An unusual bloom of phytoplankton in the Casco Bay region in the Gulf of Maine needs to be watched because of its potential to kill fish and shellfish. spring phytoplankton bloom in the Gulf of Maine without repeating cruises earlier in the spring. Three Canadian Provinces and three US states surround the Gulf of Maine creating a semi-circle shaped body of water that is still connected to the Atlantic Ocean. bathymetry/hydrography) in this system; the constantly changing values of most parameters make blooms somewhat difficult to study. Alexandrium is naturally distributed throughout the Gulf of Maine, but bloom intensity varies from year to year and the distribution is often altered by current and wind patterns. Future Research Stratification of the water column with an influx of nutrients and sunlight can create an exciting display of blooming life. Even if storms are absent, the cold atmospheric temperatures of winter chill the surface layers of the ocean. the Gulf each year from more than 60 rivers(Yentsch, et al.   -  Factors discharge. Heavy rains early in December … Conclusions Institute, Rockland, Maine. from 10-15 feet. All of the factors discussed above, Cura, J.J. Jr. 1987. Though they are small, the energy they capture from the sun through photosynthesis helps to sustain almost all life in the ocean. They systems that can measure ocean color, ocean temperature as well as ocean Gulf of Maine occurs during the spring run-off (Figs.                                  to the Bay of Fundy, 1995). New Hampshire, and Rhode Island:  Environmental Settings and Implications the marine, as well as, the global ecosystem. Tidal fronts are sharp Methods not perfectly balanced, vertical circulations can be generated at the front. In the Gulf of Maine, some of the common species found during the spring phytoplankton bloom are diatoms. Phytoplankton have pigments, temperature and ocean color) to observe and predict annual phytoplankton                 Conversely, the higher the water temperature, the lower the density. and natural resources. be further from the truth. and toxicity, along with environmental factors (salinity, water temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen and nutrient levels), were monitored over a 20-week period from June 10th- October 24th, 2013 at 3 locations. The well-mixed waters on the top Spring brings warmer temperatures and increased sunlight, creating a thermocline that traps nutrients at the ocean surface. 112:153-164. NOAA Office of Ocean Resources Conservation and Assessment. Marine Biology. Abstract Present in the Gulf of Maine that Contribute to Phytoplankton Blooms. us to develop a better understanding of their processes, life cycle, transport, Belmont CA, 2005. Miller, Charles. The data analysis you will do in this chapter is considered cutting edge research for the advancement of science! that contributes to the productivity of the Gulf of Maine, is the nutrient A transient phytoplankton bloom in the wake of Hurricane Eduoard by mixing and inertial waves in the western Gulf of Maine. Small fish eat the microscopic plants for energy and … This allows phytoplankton to absorb energy and take in the nutrients they need to photosynthesize and multiply. the satellite's sensors in several different bands. 4). With long term data sets collected from moored buoys such as the GoMOOS buoy system and an extensive library of satellite images, teachers and their students are now able to ask similar questions that can lead to conclusions that are useful to scientists. by tidal currents over shallow topography. In summary, nutrient availability is influenced by a range of complex factors in the Gulf of Maine. Figure 3  -  Some of the most important factors include water temperature, density, and salinity, hydrography of the region, availability of nutrients, what species and the amount of phytoplankton biomass that is present, what types of zooplankton are grazing on the phytoplankton, and available sunlight levels. Hypothesis: The 1992. In winter, heavy winds and plummeting temperatures cause strong mixing again. continuous mixing, thereby supplying the needed nutrients to the phytoplankton. As autumn begins, cooler days cause some vertical mixing that may bring nutrients up from below resulting in a relatively smaller fall bloom. to utilize these satellites to measure the relative abundance of phytoplankton, annual large scale blooms in this portion of the Gulf. Using the annual spring bloom of phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine as a laboratory, this project delivers to the community an improved understanding of the variability and uncertainty in satellite monitored carbon cycling through analysis of underwater data measured by autonomous gliders. upwelling also occurs as this deep cold water contacts the rocky islands page that the animation is from. can be observed through remote sensing of  sea surface temperature(SST). We know the difference between summer and winter weather on land, but we are less familiar with how the weather changes underwater. to a slightly different wavelength(Fig.2). Because of the speed of the incoming currents as well as other forces, water in the Gulf of Maine circulates counterclockwise. and upwelling in the eastern Gulf and on the south-west Scotian Shelf, 2 vertical fluxes across the . Gulf of Maine (5/28/97). In winter, you can see that the water is generally uniform in temperature throughout the water column due to heavy mixing. area. The depth of each zone varies with location. The result is that surface waters becomes too dense to be supported and they sink to the bottom, displacing the less dense, nutrient-rich water below, keeping the water mixed. These costal upwelling events serve Nutrients play an essential role in supporting a phytoplankton bloom. the plankton content of  chlorophyll a, a pigment that strongly absorbs Below The combined effects of the Gulf's geology, and circulation pattern, the this model, they found that the summertime primary production on the bank -    (Coastal Zone Color Scanner) measures ocean color This is because the colder water (blue) came to the surface adjacent to the coast and replaced The study area for this project will be the Gulf of Maine. Phytoplankton. These scales, known as coccoliths, are shaped like hubcaps and are only three one-thousandths of a millimeter in diameter. Smaller blooms have also been detected during other times of the year. SST Image                                           are some specific examples that illustrate the effects of those processes. Bank, which rise from the ocean floor to within meters of the surface. Blooms can be quick events that begin and end within a few days or they may last several weeks. Nathan Rebuck is in the final stages of preparing a manuscript on the nutrient climatology of the Gulf of Maine (Rebuck et al., in prep). ME;  Merrimack River, NH & MA). Figure  2-  The combination of these consistent currents, the direction of flow, the bathymetry and much more, makes the physical structure of the water column very different at each buoy location. These two images serve as a good example bringing nutrients to the surface. Image 27856 is a 1314 by 1368 pixel JPEG Uploaded: May5 11 1999. The bloom is the large bluish-green patch in the center of the image in the Gulf of Maine. these bands, the variation in chlorophyll can be calculated, which correlates in the oceans can be extremely useful. high concentration is caused by the coastal upwelling that occurs when Blooms Resulting From Upwelling and Tidal Action. phytoplankton are refered to as primary producers. 5&6). 4   - Animation of phytoplankton patches in the fronts. Phytoplankton Identification Guide 4 - Common Phytoplankton Key (JPG file, 1 page, 1 MB) Phytoplankton Identification Guide 5 - HAB Species not Found in the Gulf of Maine (PDF file, 2 pages, 281KB) Alexandrium Can Be Difficult to Identify (Word docx, 3 pages) light. blooms. from Cape Cod By integrating several forms of remote sensing such as ocean color satellites, Quality Assessment of the New England Coastal Basins in Maine, Massachusetts, Phytoplankton blooms usually occur where cold water rushes up from the bottom of the ocean carrying nutrients to sunlit waters. Figure 8 -  Use of SST image and large concentrations of phytoplankton may exist(Fig. the gulf via the Great South Channel, forming a unique circulation Harmful Algal Bloom Page (WHOI) loading and cold water that is received each spring in the form of river Results and Discussion phytoplankton blooms and plankton production from 1984 to 2007 in the Nova Scotian Shelf (NSS) and Gulf of Maine (GoM) region. Therefore, relatively fresh, warm water will float on top of salty, cool water. Reasons A prominent feature of satellite images, the bloom initiates as This news comes shortly after the biotoxin domoic acid closed several shellfish areas. Phytoplankton bloom in Gulf of Maine, July, 2002. and Massachusetts coastlines, Alexandrium blooms are known to be associated USGS                  As this flow of deep cold water enters the Gulf, it is mixed currents develop.