Covariation of mesoscale ocean color and sea-surface temperature patterns in the Sargasso Sea

During the lifetime of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, there were 21 instan ces in which both satellite-derived ocean color and sea-surface temperature are simultaneously available over large areas of the Sargasso Sea. These i mages reveal close correspondence between mesoscale structures observed in temperature and pigment fields. In general, higher (lower) pigment biomass occurs in mesoscale features consisting of cold (warm) temperature anomalie s. This relationship is consistent with the idea that upward displacement o f isopycnals at the base of the euphotic zone by mesoscale eddies is an imp ortant mechanism of nutrient supply in the region. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.