BIO373H5 Lecture 20: BIO373 Lecture 20
Document Summary
Primary production by phytoplankton in the oceans is constantly oscillating, ie the chlorophyll a changes due to seasons, currents, light. Salinity and alkalinity (buffering ability of the ocean to prevent significant ph changes due to equilibrium chemistry of dissolved carbon dioxide) Affects circulation patterns circulation and mixing. How light penetrates and how much is critical to this productivity. Steady state concentrations oceans have come to a balance between salts leaving the ocean and salts sedimenting and dissolving into the ocean. Major constituents of the ocean sodium and chlorine and smaller amounts of sulphur, calcium and potassium and bromine. Minor constituents these are not to be considered trivial, these rare components have a major influence on the productivity of the ocean by influencing the marine ecosystem. Salinity influences the density of the water hence at estuaries it"s possible to find fresh water sitting on top of the oceans salt water: all dependant on precipitation, fresh water runoff, salt water runoff etc.
