Benthic observatories and moored iron sensors are required to assess this process. Biological sensors will monitor ecosystem response. Not all upwelling processes will have a large of resuspended iron component. This phenomenon will lead to different ecosystem responses. Continuous measurements of iron and nitrate as well as high-resolution measurements of phytoplankton species or phytoplankton classes are required.
Frontal boundaries are the major loci of vertical transport.
Moorings do not have sufficient spatial density to monitor frontal boundaries. A major AUV component will be required to obtain the needed spatial resolution. Geographically fixed physical processes lead to predictable variation in key midwater and benthic community properties. Such properties include sediment community oxygen consumption. An example of a geographically fixed physical process is an upwelling center fixed in one coastal location.