Modelization of the role of cup rents and turbulence on the growth and dispersion of marine phytoplankton

This note introduces a model of growth and dispersion of marine phytoplankt on, focusing on the effects of currents (3D) and vertical mixing. Our metho d consists in describing these effects as the product of the horizontal cur rent, which is solved along characteristic lines, and the coupled action of vertical current and vertical diffusion, restricted on each characteristic line of the horizontal current. One thus obtains explicit formulae, which it will be possible to use in the study of the phytoplankton distribution. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.