Banded structure of drifting macroalgae

Mar Pollut Bull. 2009 Dec;58(12):1792-5. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.08.006. Epub 2009 Aug 29.

Abstract

A massive bloom of macroalgae occurred in the western Yellow Sea at the end of May, 2008, and lasted for nearly 2 months. The surface-drifting macroalgae was observed to accumulate in a pattern dominated by linear bands. The maximum length of individual algal bands exceeded 10 km and the distance between neighboring bands ranged from hundreds of meters to 6 km. Seven satellite images were analyzed to determine the distances between neighboring bands. Proportions of about 24%, 38%, and 22% are responsible for the separation distances smaller than 1 km, between 1 and 2 km, and between 2 and 3 km, respectively. The separation of about five percent of the bands exceeds 4 km. The probability distribution of the separation distance is quite close to log-normal which is that found in Langmuir circulation. However, the observed algal band separation greatly exceeds the distances between convergence lines reported in Langmuir circulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Eukaryota / growth & development*
  • Eutrophication*
  • Kinetics
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Seawater / chemistry*
  • Water Movements*
  • Water Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants