Annual Phytoplankton Blooms in the North Atlantic

An animation based on a three-dimensional model simulation reveals the processes underlying the annual spring phytoplankton blooms in the North Atlantic. This model simulation by Amala Mahadevan (WHOI) is based on a suite of observations made in 2008 by Eric D’Asaro (APL, U. Washington), Craig Lee (APL, U. Washington), and Mary Jane Perry (U. Maine). The group published their results in the July 6, 2012, issue of the journal Science(Mahadevan et al. (2012), Eddy driven stratification initiates North Atlantic spring phytoplankton blooms, Science, 337 (6090), 54-58.).