Enhanced nutrient fluxes at the shelf sea seasonal thermocline caused by stratified flow over a bank

摘要: Patches of enhanced chlorophyll a (Chl) concentrations within the thermocline were observed over slopes several banks in Celtic Sea. The turbulent mixing nutrients from bottom water into was found to be greatly slope bank (up 52 mmol nitrate m−2 day−1), compared nearby flat seafloor (∼2 day−1). This increased nutrient supply, forced by locally generated lee waves and internal mixing, is greater than supplies productive tidal fronts or shelf edge. We hypothesize this flux promotes an increase phytoplankton growth downstream sea banks, contributing horizontal patchiness Chl signal. persistence strong biological response at bank, combined with ubiquity suggests these bathymetric features have wide importance for “new” primary production seas.