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Primary production and chlorophyll "a" concentration in the eastern part of the tropical AtlanticG. P. Berseneva Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, 2 Nahimov Avenue, Sevastopol 99011, Ukraine Summary Results of simultaneous determinations of chlorophyll "a" concentrations and primary production made in the north-eastern part of the Tropical Atlantic in spring, 1977, are discussed. Low values of primary production (250—300 mgC•m–2•day-1) were obtained in the open ocean areas and high values (600—1500 mgC•m–2•day–1) in the current divergence zone and in the West African coastal area. Chlorophyll «a» concentration ranged in depth from 6 to 36 mg•m–2 throughout the whole euphotic zone, whereas in the surface layer it was from 0.05 to 0.60 mg•m–3. It is noted that the heterogeneity in primary production distribution is determined by the phytoplankton physiological state, the indicator of which is the assimilation number. Its value varied from rich to poor regions from 5 to 10 mgC•mg chl. "a"–1•hour–1. Oceanologiya, 1981, Vol.21, Iss.2, pp.337-343 | Return to Presentation Articles | |