Chemical properties of the deep winter mixed layer in the Northeast Atlantic (40-47°N)

We also show the occurrence of a significant phytoplankton biomass through the entire winter mixed layer. This phenomenon, previously coined as 'phyto-convection' [Backhaus, J.O., Wehde, H., Hegseth, E.N., Kämpf, J., 1999. 'Phyto-convection': the role of oceanic convection in primary production. Mar. Ecol., Prog. Ser. 189, 77-92] affects the nutrient and CO2 levels of the newly formed water masses and it is an indicator of the extremely fast vertical velocities through the winter mixed layer.