Biophysical Dynamics at Ocean Fronts Revealed by Bio-Argo Floats

Abstract

The straining regions of the ocean in between mesoscale eddies contain large vertical velocities that may be important in regulating phytoplankton accumulation rates. We analyze time series of variables measured by ocean Bio-Argo floats (mixed layer depths [MLDs], chlorophyll, and carbon concentrations) in conjunction with variables derived from satellite altimetry (strain rates, Lyapunov exponents, vertical velocities) to determine the evolution of mixed layer phytoplankton biomass in response to straining by the mesoscale geostrophic flow. A Lagrangian (water parcel following) framework is justified by restricting the analysis to profiles whose value of a Quasi-Planktonic Index—an index quantifying averaged distance between a float trajectory and a surface geostrophic trajectory over three consecutive time steps—is less than 5 km. Bin-averaged Lagrangian derivatives of phytoplankton biomass and chlorophyll concentration are positive for elevated strain rate and upwelling quasigeostrophic vertical velocities. Lagrangian derivatives of MLD and phytoplankton carbon averaged at straining fronts (in rotated along- and across-front coordinates) have features in common with submesoscale dynamics, including increasing phytoplankton carbon (and chlorophyll) and a shoaling mixed layer over the front. To elucidate a mechanism, we average time derivatives of modeled cell division rates, finding the pattern approximately matches the pattern of phytoplankton accumulation rates and is controlled primarily by the term modulating light stress, suggesting that frontal dynamics cause accelerations of division rates by increasing available light. Regions of increasing chlorophyll are also approximately co-located with upwelling quasigeostrophic velocity, suggesting non-Lagrangian behavior of floats causes some imprint of larger scale, more persistent mesoscale signals.