abstract
Chl a has been measured on two cruise tracks between South Africa and Antarctica in an attempt to determine its relationship to phytoplankton stocks and available nutrients in frontal systems in the Southern Ocean. A strong correlation between potential primary production (PPP) and Chl a at the sea surface was obtained. Both PPP and Chl a were negatively correlated with PO4(P), NO3(N), Si and pH exhibited weak correlation with production components implying that NO3(N) and Si were not limiting while PO4(P) may become so at fronts and in certain regions of Antarctic Surface Water. The geographic positions of peaks in measured Chl a corresponded well with the positions of physical fronts, particularly with the Antarctic Polar Front.
