Factors influencing the standing crop of phytoplankton on the Australian Northwest Shelf seaward of the 40 m isobath

Comparison of the cross-shelf phytoplankton distribution of two oceanographically distinct regions off Australia

“…At the time of sampling (autumn), the phytoplankton were actively building up biomass (N50% increase) as part of the annual winter phytoplankton bloom (Thompson and Bonham, 2011). Our finding of nutrient-rich inshore and bottom waters was consistent with a study by Tranter and Leech (1987) showing nutrient transport onto the shelf by the intrusion of cold bottom water from offshore just south of the Kimberley region during this time of the year. Coastal nutrient concentrations might have been enhanced due to runoff from the closely located large King Sound embayment, although rainfall was not pronounced during 2010 (Holliday et al, 2011).…”

Comparison of the cross-shelf phytoplankton distribution of two oceanographically distinct regions off Australia

“…At the time of sampling (autumn), the phytoplankton were actively building up biomass (N50% increase) as part of the annual winter phytoplankton bloom (Thompson and Bonham, 2011). Our finding of nutrient-rich inshore and bottom waters was consistent with a study by Tranter and Leech (1987) showing nutrient transport onto the shelf by the intrusion of cold bottom water from offshore just south of the Kimberley region during this time of the year. Coastal nutrient concentrations might have been enhanced due to runoff from the closely located large King Sound embayment, although rainfall was not pronounced during 2010 (Holliday et al, 2011).…”

Assessment of shelf sea tides and tidal mixing fronts in a global ocean model

“…In the past there has been some doubt as to whether the mixing front on the NWAS between 114 and 122°E is due to the tides since the solar irradiation is high in the lower latitudes (Tranter and Leech, 1987). However our study, based upon the net downward heat flux, indicates that the tides do have a small but measureable impact on the location of the front in this region.…”

“…11). This frontal region lying over the 40 m bathymetric contour has been discussed previously by Tranter and Leech (1987). However they discounted the role of tides due to the high solar irradiation (> 200 Wm −2 ).…”

The likelihood of observing dust-stimulated phytoplankton growth in waters proximal to the Australian continent

“…Although data here is sparse, sampling on the Sahul shelf (18-22°S) reported much higher chlorophyll values compared with the ISSG region further off-shore, thought to be due to slope water intrusions onto the shelf during summer (Tranter and Leech, 1987).…”

Comparison of the cross-shelf phytoplankton distribution of two oceanographically distinct regions off Australia

“…At the time of sampling (autumn), the phytoplankton were actively building up biomass (N50% increase) as part of the annual winter phytoplankton bloom (Thompson and Bonham, 2011). Our finding of nutrient-rich inshore and bottom waters was consistent with a study by Tranter and Leech (1987) showing nutrient transport onto the shelf by the intrusion of cold bottom water from offshore just south of the Kimberley region during this time of the year. Coastal nutrient concentrations might have been enhanced due to runoff from the closely located large King Sound embayment, although rainfall was not pronounced during 2010 (Holliday et al, 2011).…”

Assessment of shelf sea tides and tidal mixing fronts in a global ocean model

“…In the past there has been some doubt as to whether the mixing front on the NWAS between 114 and 122°E is due to the tides since the solar irradiation is high in the lower latitudes (Tranter and Leech, 1987). However our study, based upon the net downward heat flux, indicates that the tides do have a small but measureable impact on the location of the front in this region.…”

“…11). This frontal region lying over the 40 m bathymetric contour has been discussed previously by Tranter and Leech (1987). However they discounted the role of tides due to the high solar irradiation (> 200 Wm −2 ).…”

The likelihood of observing dust-stimulated phytoplankton growth in waters proximal to the Australian continent

“…Although data here is sparse, sampling on the Sahul shelf (18-22°S) reported much higher chlorophyll values compared with the ISSG region further off-shore, thought to be due to slope water intrusions onto the shelf during summer (Tranter and Leech, 1987).…”

Comparison of the cross-shelf phytoplankton distribution of two oceanographically distinct regions off Australia

“…At the time of sampling (autumn), the phytoplankton were actively building up biomass (N50% increase) as part of the annual winter phytoplankton bloom (Thompson and Bonham, 2011). Our finding of nutrient-rich inshore and bottom waters was consistent with a study by Tranter and Leech (1987) showing nutrient transport onto the shelf by the intrusion of cold bottom water from offshore just south of the Kimberley region during this time of the year. Coastal nutrient concentrations might have been enhanced due to runoff from the closely located large King Sound embayment, although rainfall was not pronounced during 2010 (Holliday et al, 2011).…”

Assessment of shelf sea tides and tidal mixing fronts in a global ocean model

“…In the past there has been some doubt as to whether the mixing front on the NWAS between 114 and 122°E is due to the tides since the solar irradiation is high in the lower latitudes (Tranter and Leech, 1987). However our study, based upon the net downward heat flux, indicates that the tides do have a small but measureable impact on the location of the front in this region.…”

“…11). This frontal region lying over the 40 m bathymetric contour has been discussed previously by Tranter and Leech (1987). However they discounted the role of tides due to the high solar irradiation (> 200 Wm −2 ).…”

The likelihood of observing dust-stimulated phytoplankton growth in waters proximal to the Australian continent

“…Although data here is sparse, sampling on the Sahul shelf (18-22°S) reported much higher chlorophyll values compared with the ISSG region further off-shore, thought to be due to slope water intrusions onto the shelf during summer (Tranter and Leech, 1987).…”