Is the Southern Ocean Getting Greener?

Abstract

The Southern Ocean is a key player in regulating the planet's biogeochemistry, productivity, and climate. Ocean color data from two National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellites show statistically significant increases in the concentration of chlorophyll in all sectors of the Southern Ocean, particularly in the Sub-Antarctic Zone and Permanently Open Ocean Zone. The smallest changes were observed in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors of the Sub-Tropical Zone. These trends seem accentuated by higher chlorophyll concentrations during the austral winter. Increases in the annual and wintertime chlorophyll concentrations can have implications for the Southern Ocean biological pump and ocean productivity and higher trophic levels.