Summary
Glacial icebergs contain large amounts of nitrate, an important phytoplankton nutrient. Low density iceberg meltwater, in rising, mixes with euphotic zone water nearby, wherein NO3 is in low concentration. Rising meltwater may also entrain nutrient-rich deeper waters and raise them to sunlit depths. Sixteen vertical profiles of nutrients (PO4, NO3, SiO2), chlorophyll-a, and physical parameters were taken near a Greenland iceberg at ∼50°N, 50°W in May–June 1980. Chlorophyll profiles show very pronounced maxima at or just below the maximum rate of change of water density vs depth; profile forms are heterogeneous (no “typical” form is evident). No enhancement of chlorophyll concentration was found re distance from or direction to the iceberg. Effects of mixing on NO3 concentrations are marginally detectable, but no ‘wake’ or ‘downwind’ effects were observed. The iceberg does not appear to grossly perturb water column plant biology nearby, but measures of rates of productivity might show otherwise, particularly near larger (e.g. Antarctic) icebergs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dillon TM, Caldwell DR (1978) Catastrophic events in a surface mixed layer. Nature 276:601–602
Dillon TM, Caldwell DR (1979) Plankton redistribution by storms. In: Temperature microstructure at Ocean Station P. Mile progress report. June 1979. Unpublished document. Department of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Ore, pp 113–121
Donaldson PB (1978) Melting of Antarctic icebergs. Nature 275:305–306
Dunbar MJ (1968) Ecological development in polar regions: a study in evolution. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 119 pp
Foldvik A, Kvinge T (1974) Conditional stability of sea water at the freezing point. Deep-Sea Res 21:169–174
Foster TD, Carmack EC (1976) Temperature and salinity structure in the Weddell Sea. J Phys Oceanogr 6:36–44
Huppert HE, Turner JS (1978) On melting icebergs. Nature 271:46–48
Jacobs SS, Gordon AL, Amos AF (1979) Effects of glacial ice melting on the Antarctic surface water. Nature 277:469–471
Josberger EG (1978) A laboratory and field study of iceberg deterioration. In: Husseiny A (ed) Iceberg utilization. Pergammon Press, Oxford, pp 245–264
Neshyba S (1977) Upwelling by icebergs. Nature 267:507–508
Parker BC, Heiskill LE, Thompson WJ, Zeller EJ (1978) Non-biogenic fixed nitrogen in Antarctica and some ecological implications. Nature 271:651–652
Scholander PF, Hemmingsen E, Coachman L, Nutt DJ (1961) Composition of gas bubbles in Greenland icebergs. J Glaciol 3:813–822
Shulenberger E, Reid JL (1981) The Pacific shallow oxygen minimum, deep chlorophyll maximum, and primary productivity, reconsidered. Deep-Sea Res 28A:901–919
Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1969) Biometry. Freeman, San Francisco, Calif, 776 pp
Strickland JDH, Parsons TR (1968) A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull Fish Res Board Can 167:1–311
Tate MW, Clelland RC (1957) Nonparametric and shortcut statistics. Interstate, Danvill, Ill, 171 pp
Wilson AT, House DA (1965) Fixation of nitrogen by aurora and its contribution to the nitrogen balance of the Earth. Nature 205:793–794
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shulenberger, E. Water-column studies near a melting Arctic iceberg. Polar Biol 2, 149–158 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00448964
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00448964