Big kudos to University of Otago PhD student, Erik Johnson, on submitting his PhD thesis! Erik has worked with satellite data, went on several RV Polaris cruises, and analyzed model output to tell a fascinating story of Otago shelfbreak episodic elevated primary productivity dynamics. Erik’s synthesis of event-to-weekly scale variability shows how local wind stress, when directed against the front (see image below) can stratify the water column and enhance productivity with a bloom strength as large as the seasonal cycle. Interestingly, the buoyancy advection is more consistent with small-scale submesoscale dynamics compared to Ekman transport. Congratulations, Erik!
Seasick Suanda 