Impact of Mesoscale Eddies on Deep Chlorophyll Maxima

Deep Chlorophyll Maxima (DCM) are ubiquitous features in stratified oceanic systems. Their establishment and maintenance result from hydrographical stability favoring specific environmental conditions with respect to light and nutrient availability required for phytoplankton growth. This stability can potentially be challenged by mesoscale eddies impacting the water column's vertical structure and thus the environmental parameters that condition the subsistence of DCMs. Here, data from the global BGC-Argo float network are collocated with mesoscale eddies to explore their impact on DCMs. We show that cyclonic eddies, by providing optimal light and nutrient conditions, increase the occurrence of DCMs characterized by Deep Biomass Maxima for phytoplankton. In contrast, DCMs in anticyclonic eddies seem to be driven by photoacclimation as they coincide with Deep Acclimation Maxima without biomass accumulation. These findings suggest that the two types of eddies potentially have different impacts on the role of DCMs in global primary production.

Automated summary

Research shows that cyclonic eddies can increase the occurrence of Deep Chlorophyll Maxima (DCM) with high phytoplankton biomass, while anticyclonic eddies mainly affect DCM through photoacclimation without significant biomass accumulation. These findings suggest different impacts of the two types of eddies on the role of DCMs in global primary production.