Although these features sometimes appear to be spatially predictable, the observed variability between seasons and years indicate that their exact location, intensity and vertical structure may be affected strongly by winds, buoyancy flux, and larger-scale currents. In Section IV the argument is presented that mesoscale activity may increase due to future greenhouse-gas mediated climate change. Among other properties, local temperature, current strength and stratification will depend on the nature and strength of these mesoscale features.
Mesoscale studies are important components of the large-scale comparisons described above.
Spatial and temporal variability in fish recruitment and benthic organism settlement will be a key measurement in mesoscale studies. The overall goal of the mesoscale spatial studies is to understand the extent to which the present spatial and temporal variability in mesoscale circulation in the CCS impacts the abundances, species composition, growth, mortality, genetic composition, transport and recruitment of holoplankton, meroplankton and ichthyoplankton, and to relate this present variability to differences in mesoscale circulation expected as a result of climate change. The role of mesoscale features in driving active or passive aggregations and maintaining the spatial and temporal coherence or fidelity of populations. The role of frontal dynamics in producing or maintaining gradients in vital rates, and the exchange between or genetic isolation of populations. The role of mesoscale features in determining the links between plankton dynamics and the ultimate spatial and temporal variability in recruitment of fish and benthic organisms.