Dr. Mahadevan explains (with demos) the relationship between the mixing of warm and cold ocean water and the spectacular phytoplankton blooms. The phytoplankton are essential to the cycle of CO2 absorption that occurs in the world’s oceans. This is a fascinating explanation of a complex relationship between ocean physics, chemistry and biology.

Science for the Public 02/24/15: Amala Mahadevan, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Physical Oceanography Dept, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Background info: http://www.scienceforthepublic.org/earth/how-plankton-blooms-absorb-co2

Yvonne Stapp