Introduction to Oceanography

1. Introduction to Oceanography Ru Morrison COOA University of New Hampshire Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

2. Oceanographic Disciplines All to answer the question: How do phytoplankton grow? • Physical - stratification • Chemical - nutrients • Biological - phytoplankton Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

3. 1) Physical Oceanography Seasonal Stratification Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

4. Amy Holt Cline COOA Kevin Kline Fish Called Wanda Seasonal Thermocline All over the place Introducing the Clines Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

5. A little regional Geography You are here Jordan Basin + + George’s Basin Wilkinson Basin George’s Bank Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

6. Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasonal Thermocline COOA REACH station D Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

7. Wind mix from the Surface down Summer Tides mix from the bottom up How to Mix things up a little (or a lot) If too shallow no seasonal stratification Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

8. Something Strange afoot in Wilkinson Basin Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

9. Deep Slope Water Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

10. Stratification Summary • Due to density changes • During Winter months waters well mixed • Increased sun in Spring warms surface waters → less dense and floats • Decreased sun and increased storms begin to mix things up Fall • Back to mixed in Winter • Not that simple as you need to consider salinity as well Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

11. 2) Chemical Oceanography Nutrients Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

12. Nutrients From Thurman H.V. and Burton, E.A., 2001. Introductory Oceanography • Important and commonly measured elements needed for the growth of plants Too Complicated! Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

13. Nutrients Plants Animals Nutrients Photosynthesis Thermo-cline Regeneration Detritus • Important and commonly measured elements needed for the growth of plants Land Runoff Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

14. Biological Oceanography Run Video Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

15. What’s Alive?Drifters of the ocean - Plankton • Zooplankton • Eat phytoplankton • Get eaten by bigger things • Important in nutrient cycling Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

16. What’s Alive?Swimmers - Nekton • Squid • Mammals • Reptiles • Fish Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

17. Food Webs Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

18. Phytoplankton You can’t see a whale from space but you can see … Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

19. Light – from the sun UV Visible Infrared Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

20. Absorbed light of all colors reemitted as red light (683 nm, actually by chlorophyll-a) Can use it to measure phytoplankton biomass Fluorescence Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

21. Fluorometer • Fluorescence used to estimate chlorophyll – a • Chl-a used to estimate phytoplankton biomass Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

22. Photosynthesis & Biosynthesis 6CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 • Photosynthesis makes carbohydrates • What’s needed? • Light • Nutrients for Biosynthesis • i.e. To make other stuff such as DNA Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

23. Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasonal Stratification -What does it do to phytoplankton? COOA REACH station D Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom

24. Phytoplankton Summary • Fluorescence estimate of Biomass • Requires • Nutrients • Light • Spring • Onset of Stratification keeps Phytoplankton in surface nutrient rich waters → Spring bloom • Summer • Nutrients in the surface mixed layer depleted during → decreased quantities • Fall • Mixing introduces nutrients from bottom water → Fall bloom usually smaller Incorporating Ocean Observation Data into the Classroom