To explore this phenomenon, Dr. John Marra of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and I developed a new formulation for the phytoplankton photoresponse. The mixing model showed that the modelled photoresponse could increase the integrated production under certain conditions of wind forcing and diffuse attenuation of irradiance. Time response of phytoplankton photosynethesis under constant irradiance. Vertical distribution of instantaneous photosynthetic rate of 2000 cells in a wind-driven mixed layer at 4 times during the day. Solid line is no wind mixing Vertical distribution of Pmax of the same cells.
Solid line is no wind mixing.