Banded structure of drifting macroalgae.
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.
Qiao
Fangli
F
First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, China. qiaofl@fio.org.cn
Dai
Dejun
D
Simpson
John
J
Svendsen
Harald
H
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development*; D005068:Eutrophication; D007700:Kinetics; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D014873:Water Pollutants