FLUORESCENCE STRUCTURE IN THE REGION OF THE TIDAL MIXING FRONT ON THESOUTHERN FLANK OF GEORGES BANK

Transects of fluorescence measurements were made across the region of the tidal-mixing front on the southern flank of Georges Bank in 1992, 1993 and 1994. The fluorescence distribution exhibited three character istic patterns: (i) a subsurface maximum associated with the pycnoclin e in stratified water columns; (ii) a spatially incoherent variability with a characteristic spectral slope, believed to be related to the l ocal vertical mixing processes; and (iii) a higher level of fluorescen ce within the front on some transects. This latter pattern was observe d when the tidal current amplitude had recently increased with the loc al fortnightly/monthly variability. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd