Spatial patterns in dense algal blooms

Abstract

Intricate and striking patterns are often created in dense algal blooms by the interaction of sinking, floating, or swimming algae and local physical dynamics. The structure of these patterns can reveal a great deal about the processes underlying the pattern formation. Here I explore three common patterns in dense algal blooms: chaotic mixing, internal wave banding, and sharp fronts. For each of these patterns, I develop a simple model to simulate the qualitative aspects of the patterns. The models are then analyzed to better understand the time and space‐dependent processes involved in pattern formation and to suggest ways in which we might better sample such patterns to more accurately quantify the dynamics. One significant result of this analysis is that complicated patterns of Lagrangian tracers need not be driven by similarly complicated patterns of the flow.