Impact of climate forcing on ecosystem processes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

a (mol C fixed mol chl a � 1 d � 1 ), a measure of the biomass-normalized production, was relatively constant, whereas PP per unit solar radiation (mol C fixed mol quanta � 1 ), a measure of the efficiency of light utilization, varied in synchrony with the temporal trend in PP. Coincident with variations in PP, the HOT program core data sets also revealed changes in mixed-layer depth, upper ocean stratification, inorganic nutrients, phototrophic microbial abundances and pigment inventories. These time-series data suggest that the ENSO/PDO may control upper ocean stratification and vertical nutrient delivery into the euphotic zone at Sta. ALOHA, thereby influencing the composition of the plankton assemblage and altering rates of PP and particulate matter export.