The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community
Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/77248
marineresources Ocean Eddies, Not Just Sun Trigger Atlantic Phytoplankton Scientists have found evidence of ed- dies triggering the annual spring and summer North Atlantic phytoplankton bloom. These eddies swirl across the surface layer of the North Atlantic Ocean and sustain phytoplankton in the ocean's shallower waters, where they can receive sunlight to fuel growth, thereby keeping them from being pushed downward by the vagaries of rough processes at the ocean surface. "Our results show that, due to eddies, the bloom starts even before the sun be- gins to warm the ocean," said Amala Mahadevan, an oceanographer at the Woods Hole Ocean ographic Institution and lead author of the paper published in Science in July. The eddies help explain the timing of the spring and summer bloom and its patchy appearance, which is shaped by the eddies. The study focused on diatoms, phyto- plankton that live in walls of silica. The scientists tracked a patch of seawater off Iceland and followed the progression of the bloom. In April 2008, they arrived in the North Atlantic aboard the Ice- landic RV Bjarni Saemundsson. They launched four Seagliders, designed, built and operated by the University of Washington, in the rough seas and de- ployed a Lagrangian float, also from the university, that hovered below the water's surface. Lurking alongside the float were the 6-foot-long Seagliders, which dove to depths up to 1,000 meters. After each dive, the gliders, working in areas 20 to 50 kilometers around the float, rose to the surface and transmitted their stored data back to shore. The float and gliders measured the temperature, salinity and velocity of the water, and gathered data on the chem- istry and biology of the bloom, such as oxygen, nitrate and the optical signa- tures of the phytoplankton. The ocean eddies were generated in a 3D model from a south-to-north vari- ation of ocean temperature. The scien- tists hope to follow the bloom's evolution across an entire year. This data could be integrated with a suite of phys- ical-biological models to span the world's oceans. Toxic Pollutants Measured In Five Sea Turtle Species Researchers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) and its partners meas- ured in June concentrations of 13 per- fluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in five endangered sea turtle species for the first time: the green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhead and Kemp's ri- dley. Their PFC levels approach the amounts known to cause adverse health effects in other animals. PFCs are man-made pollutants that infiltrate the food chain and affect neu- robehavioral function and the immune system. The most common PFCs are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The turtles in this study had diets ranging up the food chain from sea grasses and algae to crabs. PFC concen- trations were expected to be higher in species that fed farther up the food chain, since their prey's tissues would probably concentrate the pollutants. International Water Conference® -The 73rd Annual IWC- November 4-8, 2012 San Antonio, TX USA The IWC is dedicated to advancing new developments in the treatment, use, and reuse of water and wastewater for industrial and engineering purposes. For the past 72 years, the IWC has provided training of best practice principles to those new and experienced in water treatment. Plan now to attend the 2012 IWC to: Learn about the latest developments in water treatment technologies Network with manufacturers, suppliers and industry experts Gain exposure, knowledge and a multitude of new ideas that can be put to practical use in your facility–large or small–to solve your water treatment problems www.eswp.com/water 66 st / AUGUST 2012 www.sea-technology.com