TITLE:     Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Phytoplankton Biomass and Primary
	   Production West of the Antarctic Peninsula
AUTHOR:    RC Smith, KS Baker, ML Byers, HM Dierssen, SE Stammerjohn 
	   and M Vernet
DATE:      12-16 Feb 1996
PLACE:     1996 Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego, California
 Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, Vol. 76, No.3, January 16, 199
 ASLO FEB96

ABSTRACT:  
The spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton biomass, estimated
as chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration, and primary productivity is
examined in the continental shelf-slope region west of the Antarctic
Peninsula.  Time series data from the nearshore Palmer Station grid
and spatial observations in a larger regional grid 200 km on/offshore
and 900 km along shore obtained during yearly cruises are 
compared.  We present patterns of biomass and primary 
production in conjunction with relevant physical and biological 
processes.Both chl-a and productivity show strong seasonal and 
interannual variability as well as marked spatial variability.
Factors that regulate production at different temporal and spatial scales 
are considered and results are compared with bio-optical production
models.  Sensitivity analyses of these models are used to give a first
approximation of the variables that may influence or control the observed 
patterns.