The importance of light in the initiation of the 1972‐1973 winter‐spring diatom bloom in Narragansett Bay1

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Abstract
In 1972–1973 the winter–spring phytoplankton maximum in Narragansett Bay was delayed until late February; it usually occurs in December. Incident light intensity levels relative to the 15‐year mean were unusually low until mid‐January and increased thereafter through February. Inception of the bloom in mid‐January occurred shortly after the estimated in situ intensity of 40 ly d−1 was attained—the critical intensity suggested by Riley required to initiate the spring bloom in temperate coastal waters. Low incident and in situ light intensity, rather than temperature or, as in previous years, a relaxation of grazing pressure, appeared to cause the unusually late bloom inception during 1972–1973.