TY - JOUR
T1 - UV transmission in Norwegian marine waters
T2 - Controlling factors and possible effects on primary production and vertical distribution of phytoplankton
AU - Erga, Svein Rune
AU - Aursland, Kjetil
AU - Frette, Øyvind
AU - Hamre, Børge
AU - Lotsberg, Jon Kåre
AU - Stamnes, Jakob J.
AU - Aure, Jan
AU - Rey, Francisco
AU - Stamnes, Knut
PY - 2005/12/23
Y1 - 2005/12/23
N2 - We investigated the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) transmission properties of Norwegian oceanic, coastal and fjord waters, and how they influence the primary production and vertical distribution of phytoplankton. Values of the 1 % UVR attenuation depth and diffuse attenuation coefficients (Kd) in the Greenland and Norwegian Seas (GNS), in the coastal waters of south-western Norway (SWN) and in the Samnanger fjord (SAF) are presented. Maximum penetration of UVR in the GNS was confirmed by Kd(320) = 0.25 m-1, and mimimum penetration in the SAF, by Kd(320) = 9 m-1. In the GNS, Kd and chlorophyll a (chl a) were closely correlated, while coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was the main contributor to ultraviolet (UV) attenuation in the SAF. Also, in SWN waters, CDOM was more important than chl a for UV attenuation, but less important than in SAF waters. In GNS and SAF waters the average vertical distribution of chl a had its maximum in the upper 10 and 7.5 m of the water column, respectively, while in SWN waters it had its maximum at 20 m. The depths with the highest photosynthetic rates per unit volume decreased successively from the oceanic waters of the GNS via the coastal waters of the SWN to the fjord waters of the SAF. Under similar PAR intensities, however, the water column photosynthetic efficiency (integrated carbon assimilation/chl a ratio) was highest in SWN waters. Maximum and mean percentage potential for inhibition of the estimated (from PAR and UV) primary production due to UVR at a depth of 5 m were 11 and 4.3 % in the GNS, 3.2 and 0.9 % in the SWN and 0.5 and 0.1 % in the SAF. The UVR potential for inhibition was significant down to a depth of 10 m in the GNS, down to a depth of 5 m in the waters of the SWN, while it was seldom found deeper than 3 m in the SAF. These variations could be ascribed to differences in CDOM concentrations and mixed-layer depths. The optical properties of the investigated water masses were found to be highly influenced by the circulation patterns.
AB - We investigated the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) transmission properties of Norwegian oceanic, coastal and fjord waters, and how they influence the primary production and vertical distribution of phytoplankton. Values of the 1 % UVR attenuation depth and diffuse attenuation coefficients (Kd) in the Greenland and Norwegian Seas (GNS), in the coastal waters of south-western Norway (SWN) and in the Samnanger fjord (SAF) are presented. Maximum penetration of UVR in the GNS was confirmed by Kd(320) = 0.25 m-1, and mimimum penetration in the SAF, by Kd(320) = 9 m-1. In the GNS, Kd and chlorophyll a (chl a) were closely correlated, while coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was the main contributor to ultraviolet (UV) attenuation in the SAF. Also, in SWN waters, CDOM was more important than chl a for UV attenuation, but less important than in SAF waters. In GNS and SAF waters the average vertical distribution of chl a had its maximum in the upper 10 and 7.5 m of the water column, respectively, while in SWN waters it had its maximum at 20 m. The depths with the highest photosynthetic rates per unit volume decreased successively from the oceanic waters of the GNS via the coastal waters of the SWN to the fjord waters of the SAF. Under similar PAR intensities, however, the water column photosynthetic efficiency (integrated carbon assimilation/chl a ratio) was highest in SWN waters. Maximum and mean percentage potential for inhibition of the estimated (from PAR and UV) primary production due to UVR at a depth of 5 m were 11 and 4.3 % in the GNS, 3.2 and 0.9 % in the SWN and 0.5 and 0.1 % in the SAF. The UVR potential for inhibition was significant down to a depth of 10 m in the GNS, down to a depth of 5 m in the waters of the SWN, while it was seldom found deeper than 3 m in the SAF. These variations could be ascribed to differences in CDOM concentrations and mixed-layer depths. The optical properties of the investigated water masses were found to be highly influenced by the circulation patterns.
KW - Norwegian waters
KW - Phytoplankton
KW - Primary production
KW - UV transmission
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=31844449884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=31844449884&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3354/meps305079
DO - 10.3354/meps305079
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:31844449884
SN - 0171-8630
VL - 305
SP - 79
EP - 100
JO - Marine Ecology Progress Series
JF - Marine Ecology Progress Series
ER -