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Science 28 November 2003:
Vol. 302. no. 5650, pp. 1548 - 1551
DOI: 10.1126/science.1090729
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Reports

Oceanic Rossby Waves Acting As a "Hay Rake" for Ecosystem Floating By-Products

Yves Dandonneau,1* Andres Vega,2 Hubert Loisel,3 Yves du Penhoat,2 Christophe Menkes1

Recent satellite observations of Rossby waves and chlorophyll anomalies propagating in subtropical gyres have suggested that wave-induced upwelling could stimulate photosynthesis. Instead, we show that chlorophyll maxima are located in abnormally warm water, in Rossby wave–induced convergences. This excludes inputs of nutrients from deeper water. We argue that the sea color anomalies are not caused by chlorophyll but by floating particles evolved from the ecosystem and accumulated by Rossby waves, acting as "marine hay rakes," in convergence zones. Such processes may be determinant for the distribution of living organisms in oligotrophic areas.

1 IRD, IPSL/Laboratoire d'Océanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, 75252 Paris 05, France.
2 IRD, Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiale, Toulouse, France.
3 MREN-Université du Littoral - Côte d'Opale, UMR8013, Wimereux, France.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yd{at}lodyc.jussieu.fr

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Swimming Against the Flow: A Mechanism of Zooplankton Aggregation.
A. Genin, J. S. Jaffe, R. Reef, C. Richter, and P. J. S. Franks (2005)
Science 308, 860-862
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comment on "Oceanic Rossby Waves Acting As a `Hay Rake' for Ecosystem Floating By-Products".
P. D. Killworth (2004)
Science 304, 390b
   Full Text »    PDF »
Response to Comment on "Oceanic Rossby Waves Acting As a `Hay Rake' for Ecosystem Floating By-Products".
Y. Dandonneau, C. Menkes, T. Gorgues, and G. Madec (2004)
Science 304, 390c
   Full Text »    PDF »


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