Research conducted by oceanographers at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa has revealed that eddies on the leeward side of the Hawaiian Islands play a crucial role in supplying nutrients to the surrounding waters, stimulating blooms of phytoplankton. These microscopic plant organisms are essential for the marine food chain, and the nutrient-rich eddies can transport these nutrients across the islands, impacting biological productivity on both sides of the island chain. The study, published in JGR Oceans, was recognized by the American Geophysical Union’s editorial board as a featured article, highlighting the significance of these findings.
While the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are typically low in nutrients, the researchers observed previously unreported blooms of phytoplankton off the northern coasts of some islands. Using satellite data and computer models, they were able to simulate the ocean environment around the Main Hawaiian Islands and conduct experiments to identify the source of these nutrients driving the bloom events. Contrary to their initial expectations of local upwelling on the north side of the island chain, the results indicated that the blooms were actually driven by nutrients supplied by upwelling eddies located around 100 miles away.
The discovery of this new mechanism for delivering nutrients around Hawai’i has significant implications for biological productivity in the region. These blooms not only support the growth of phytoplankton but also provide a source of nutrients that can be transferred through the food chain, potentially impacting fisheries near the Hawaiian Islands. Additionally, this mechanism may have far-reaching effects on productivity around islands in other nutrient-poor regions, highlighting the broader implications of this research beyond the waters of Hawai’i.
Lead author Kate Feloy, a Uehiro graduate fellow and doctoral candidate in the Department of Oceanography at UH Manoa SOEST, emphasized the importance of understanding how eddies can have remote impacts on productivity around the Hawaiian Islands. The findings of this study shed light on the interconnected nature of ocean ecosystems and the role that physical ocean processes play in driving biological productivity. By uncovering the link between upwelling eddies and phytoplankton blooms, researchers have identified a key mechanism that can influence marine life in nutrient-poor regions.
By studying the distribution of nutrients and phytoplankton blooms in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands, researchers have gained valuable insights into the complex interactions that shape marine ecosystems. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the biological productivity of ocean environments but also have implications for fisheries management and conservation efforts in the region. Understanding how eddies transport nutrients and stimulate phytoplankton growth can help scientists predict and mitigate the impacts of environmental changes on marine ecosystems.
Overall, the research conducted by UH Manoa oceanographers highlights the importance of considering the role of physical ocean processes in driving biological productivity in marine environments. By uncovering the role of upwelling eddies in supplying nutrients to the waters around the Hawaiian Islands, researchers have identified a key mechanism that can have far-reaching impacts on marine ecosystems. This study provides valuable insights into the interconnected nature of ocean ecosystems and the importance of nutrient transport in supporting the growth of phytoplankton and sustaining marine life in nutrient-poor regions.
