A Phytoplankton Bloom Will Begin to Increase If the Mixing

Question

A phytoplankton bloom will begin to increase if the mixing depth
A) Is greater than the critical depth
B) Is equal to the critical depth
C) Is less than the critical depth
D) Is less than the compensation depth

Accepted Answer

A phytoplankton bloom will begin to increase if the mixing depth is less than the critical depth. This is because when the mixing depth is shallower than the critical depth, phytoplankton spend more time in the well-lit surface waters, allowing for greater photosynthesis and growth rates than their loss rates, leading to a net increase in biomass.