Structure of Emiliania huxleyi blooms in the Black Sea surface waters as detected by SeaWIFS imagery

Abstract

The temporal and spatial characteristics of coccolithoprid Emiliania huxleyi blooms in the surface waters of the Black Sea axe studied using the Sea-WIFS mean normalized water-leaving radiances data for 1998-2000. It is shown that the Black Sea consistently experiences high reflectance patches of coccolith platelets throughout the basin each year during the May-July period. Although the Black Sea is masked by clouds, the data also suggest enhanced activity for some period during autumn and early winter. Their spatial patterns resemble very closely the circulation system derived from the altimeter data, and exhibit pronounced differences between cyclones and anticyclones. The cyclonic cell, which covers the entire interior part of the basin, appears as a more favourable site for more intense bloom formation. This is related with its relatively shallower mixed layer thickness and stronger mixed layer average water leaving radiance.