Influence of internal waves on primary production

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Effects of vertical displacements by internal gravity waves upon the depth distribution of horizontally averaged primary production are considered. A previous analysis is extended (i) to make explicit the role of negative curvature of a P-versus-I curve and (ii) to consider possible effects of photoadaptation. Curvature of P-versus-I is shown to yield a ‘crossover depth’ above which internal waves suppress mean productivity and below which internal waves enhance mean productivity. Because compensation depth is found to occur below crossover depth for typical oceanic and coastal conditions, internal waves induce a deepening of the compensation depth.