Journal Article

Chlorophyll a in Antarctic sea ice from historical ice core data

Thanassekos, S., Tison, J.-L., Lannuzel, D., Meiners, K. M., Swadling, K. M., van der Merwe, P., Raymond, B., Vancoppenolle, M., Smith Jr, W. O., Thomas, D. N., Arrigo, K. R., Garrison, D. L., Dieckmann, G. S., Melnikov, I., McMinn, A.

2012

Overview

Sea ice core chlorophyll a data are used to describe the seasonal, regional and vertical distribution of algal biomass in Southern Ocean pack ice. The Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate – Biology (ASPeCt – Bio) circumpolar dataset consists of 1300 ice cores collected during 32 cruises over a period of 25 years. The analyses show that integrated sea ice chlorophyll apeaks in early spring and late austral summer, which is consistent with theories on light and nutrient limitation. The results indicate that on a circum‐Antarctic scale, surface, internal and bottom sea ice layers contribute equally to integrated biomass, but vertical distribution shows distinct differences among six regions around the continent. The vertical distribution of sea ice algal biomass depends on sea ice thickness, with surface communities most commonly associated with thin ice (<0.4 m), and ice of moderate thickness (0.4–1.0 m) having the highest probability of forming bottom communities. Key Points Antarctic sea ice chlorophyll a shows maxima in early spring and late summer Surface, internal and bottom ice layers contribute equally to integrated biomass The vertical distribution of chlorophyll a critically depends on ice thickness

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,John Wiley & Sons, Inc,American Geophysical Union
• Subject: algae / Antarctica / Biogeochemistry / Biology / Biomass / Chlorophyll / chlorophyll a / Chlorophylls / Climate / Communities / Cryosphere / Earth Sciences / Environmental Sciences / Geobiology / Geophysics / Global Changes / Ice / Ice thickness / Marine / Oceans / Pack ice / Physics / Sciences of the Universe / Sea ice / Vertical distribution