The Southern Ocean may seem far removed from the North Pacific or the Gulf of Maine, but its waters connect to every major ocean basin through powerful circulation. Driven by strong winds and currents, these waters travel northward and become part of a vast, interconnected system. Think of it like a global “windmill” that continually moves and redistributes water.
A recent study led by Bigelow Laboratory researchers explores how the optical, physical, and biogeochemical properties of two water masses formed in the Southern Ocean change over time as they travel through this circulation system.
As these water masses mix into the global ocean, the ways in which they transport and recycle nutrients have far-reaching effects on phytoplankton communities worldwide.
