Understanding the Massive Phytoplankton Blooms Over the Australian-Antarctic Ridge

The Australian-Antarctic Ridge phytoplankton bloom is one of the most concentrated and largest blooms in the Southern Ocean and one of only three large blooms that consistently develop within offshore waters of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, yet we know almost nothing about the processes driving it. Perhaps significantly, this bloom is located directly above two hydrothermal vents that are known to release large amounts of trace metals such as iron. The primary objective of this proposal is to combine remote sensing, modeling, and fieldwork to identify the physical and chemical processes responsible for delivering dissolved iron to the site of the recurring Australian-Antarctic Ridge bloom and characterize the biological and biogeochemical responses by the bloom to that iron input.

More Information About This Project

Participants Involved in This Project

Kevin in front of a red plane

Kevin Arrigo | Researcher Fellow

Department of Earth System Science | Stanford, California
Bhavna tossing a green apple in front of a chalkboard

Bhavna Rawal | Educator Fellow

Lonestar Community College-CyFair | Houston, TX

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