Pacific Coastal Biome
429
0.54
0.63
0.72
0.81
0.90
0.36
0.42
0.48
0.54
0.60
SeaWiFS (SUND): September 1997 - January 2002
Surface Chl (mg m -3
)
Pt d
-1
Chl m
-3
Pt (gC m
-2
d
-1
)
1998
1999
2000
2001
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Climatology (years)
Depth (m)
Production at DCM (%)
Zm (sigma)
Zeu
Pt (at DCM)
Fig. 11.22 SUND: seasonal cycles of monthly surface chlorophyll and depth-integrated autotrophic production
for the years 1997–2002 from SeaWiFS data together with characteristic seasonal cycles of mixed-layer depths
from Levitus climatological data and photic depths computed from characteristic irradiance and the archive
of chlorophyll profiles discussed in Chapter 1.
thus, the pycnocline is illuminated in all months except during the SW Monsoon period,
July–August. The two productivity maxima in a seasonal cycle of weak dynamic range
correspond with the seasons of greatest monsoon wind stress (05 mg C m
−2 d
−1 in July
and 06 mg C m
−2 d
−1 in December–January), and the consequent effects of enhanced
productivity and chlorophyll accumulation cannot be separated from resuspension of
sediments (Fig. 11.22).
East Australian Coastal Province (AUSE)
Extent of the Province
For convenience, two ecologically different coasts are aggregated into the East Australian
Coastal Province (AUSE) province, which thus extends the entire length of the eastern
coast of Australia. For many purposes, and to follow strictly the logic of the Trades
and Westerlies biomes discussed earlier, this province should be partitioned. One logical
partition would be from the Papuan Barrier Reef down the Queensland coast to Sandy
Cape (25
S) where the wide northern shelf narrows and changes orientation; a second
partition would be from there to near Sydney (c. 35
S), where the East Australian Current
is retroflected eastward across the Tasman Sea. The most southerly partition would extend
down along the Tasman Sea coast to SE Cape at 45
S, thus including the eastern coast
of Tasmania. It might, for some purposes, also be logical to include the reef-bound coast
of New Caledonia within the northern partition.
429
0.54
0.63
0.72
0.81
0.90
0.36
0.42
0.48
0.54
0.60
SeaWiFS (SUND): September 1997 - January 2002
Surface Chl (mg m -3
)
Pt d
-1
Chl m
-3
Pt (gC m
-2
d
-1
)
1998
1999
2000
2001
0
20
40
60
80
100
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Climatology (years)
Depth (m)
Production at DCM (%)
Zm (sigma)
Zeu
Pt (at DCM)
Fig. 11.22 SUND: seasonal cycles of monthly surface chlorophyll and depth-integrated autotrophic production
for the years 1997–2002 from SeaWiFS data together with characteristic seasonal cycles of mixed-layer depths
from Levitus climatological data and photic depths computed from characteristic irradiance and the archive
of chlorophyll profiles discussed in Chapter 1.
thus, the pycnocline is illuminated in all months except during the SW Monsoon period,
July–August. The two productivity maxima in a seasonal cycle of weak dynamic range
correspond with the seasons of greatest monsoon wind stress (05 mg C m
−2 d
−1 in July
and 06 mg C m
−2 d
−1 in December–January), and the consequent effects of enhanced
productivity and chlorophyll accumulation cannot be separated from resuspension of
sediments (Fig. 11.22).
East Australian Coastal Province (AUSE)
Extent of the Province
For convenience, two ecologically different coasts are aggregated into the East Australian
Coastal Province (AUSE) province, which thus extends the entire length of the eastern
coast of Australia. For many purposes, and to follow strictly the logic of the Trades
and Westerlies biomes discussed earlier, this province should be partitioned. One logical
partition would be from the Papuan Barrier Reef down the Queensland coast to Sandy
Cape (25
S) where the wide northern shelf narrows and changes orientation; a second
partition would be from there to near Sydney (c. 35
S), where the East Australian Current
is retroflected eastward across the Tasman Sea. The most southerly partition would extend
down along the Tasman Sea coast to SE Cape at 45
S, thus including the eastern coast
of Tasmania. It might, for some purposes, also be logical to include the reef-bound coast
of New Caledonia within the northern partition.