Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing

Thinning sea ice cover and earlier melt in the Arctic impact primary producer (PP) phenology, causing earlier ice algal bloom termination and phytoplankton bloom commencement. However, logistic constraints limit capturing the complete seasonal evolution of PPs and their physical drivers. Here, we co...

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Main Authors: Kiran Yendamuri, Julienne Stroeve, Jens K. Ehn, William J. Williams, Vishnu Nandan, Brent G.T. Else, Alexander S. Komarov, Christina A. Braybrook, Mike Dempsey, C.J. Mundy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2024-12-01
Series:Arctic Science
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Online Access:https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0053
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author Kiran Yendamuri
Julienne Stroeve
Jens K. Ehn
William J. Williams
Vishnu Nandan
Brent G.T. Else
Alexander S. Komarov
Christina A. Braybrook
Mike Dempsey
C.J. Mundy
author_facet Kiran Yendamuri
Julienne Stroeve
Jens K. Ehn
William J. Williams
Vishnu Nandan
Brent G.T. Else
Alexander S. Komarov
Christina A. Braybrook
Mike Dempsey
C.J. Mundy
author_sort Kiran Yendamuri
collection DOAJ
description Thinning sea ice cover and earlier melt in the Arctic impact primary producer (PP) phenology, causing earlier ice algal bloom termination and phytoplankton bloom commencement. However, logistic constraints limit capturing the complete seasonal evolution of PPs and their physical drivers. Here, we combine spectral irradiance data from subsurface oceanographic moorings with synthetic aperture radar backscatter and meteorological variables to study light in Dease Strait, investigating its relation to timing and magnitude of surface PPs for 2017 and 2019. Ice algal blooms in 2017 and 2019 lasted 66 and 84 days, respectively, peaking within 2 days of snow melt onset. In 2019, lower temperatures and a deeper snowpack before snow melt extended the ice algal bloom. Melt pond formation increased light transmission, enabling a short, 6–7-day under-ice phytoplankton bloom in both years that was likely nutrient-limited. The 2019 phytoplankton bloom was less productive, possibly due to the longer ice algal bloom depleting surface nutrients. After ice break-up in 2019, a 31-day late-summer bloom occurred via wind-driven mixing. Our findings suggest that the combined remote sensing technique has novel applicability in other settings, providing insights into the changing state of PP phenology, and the need for long-term Arctic observations to discern regional climate change effects.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2368-7460
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Arctic Science
spelling doaj-art-c86b19402f3342bbb2c2150ff043781b2024-12-02T15:40:46ZengCanadian Science PublishingArctic Science2368-74602024-12-0110467368710.1139/as-2023-0053Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensingKiran Yendamuri0Julienne Stroeve1Jens K. Ehn2William J. Williams3Vishnu Nandan4Brent G.T. Else5Alexander S. Komarov6Christina A. Braybrook7Mike Dempsey8C.J. Mundy9Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaCentre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaCentre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, BC, CanadaCentre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaData and Assimilation and Satellite Meteorology Research Section, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, ON, CanadaDepartment of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, BC, CanadaCentre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaThinning sea ice cover and earlier melt in the Arctic impact primary producer (PP) phenology, causing earlier ice algal bloom termination and phytoplankton bloom commencement. However, logistic constraints limit capturing the complete seasonal evolution of PPs and their physical drivers. Here, we combine spectral irradiance data from subsurface oceanographic moorings with synthetic aperture radar backscatter and meteorological variables to study light in Dease Strait, investigating its relation to timing and magnitude of surface PPs for 2017 and 2019. Ice algal blooms in 2017 and 2019 lasted 66 and 84 days, respectively, peaking within 2 days of snow melt onset. In 2019, lower temperatures and a deeper snowpack before snow melt extended the ice algal bloom. Melt pond formation increased light transmission, enabling a short, 6–7-day under-ice phytoplankton bloom in both years that was likely nutrient-limited. The 2019 phytoplankton bloom was less productive, possibly due to the longer ice algal bloom depleting surface nutrients. After ice break-up in 2019, a 31-day late-summer bloom occurred via wind-driven mixing. Our findings suggest that the combined remote sensing technique has novel applicability in other settings, providing insights into the changing state of PP phenology, and the need for long-term Arctic observations to discern regional climate change effects.https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0053Canadian Arcticprimary productionremote sensingsynthetic aperture radarnormalized difference index
spellingShingle Kiran Yendamuri
Julienne Stroeve
Jens K. Ehn
William J. Williams
Vishnu Nandan
Brent G.T. Else
Alexander S. Komarov
Christina A. Braybrook
Mike Dempsey
C.J. Mundy
Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
Arctic Science
Canadian Arctic
primary production
remote sensing
synthetic aperture radar
normalized difference index
title Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
title_full Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
title_fullStr Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
title_full_unstemmed Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
title_short Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
title_sort surface primary producer phenology in dease strait nu canada examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
topic Canadian Arctic
primary production
remote sensing
synthetic aperture radar
normalized difference index
url https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/as-2023-0053
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