Biological implications of submesoscale eddy fluxes

Submesoscale processes in the upper ocean generate strong ageostrophic circulations that induce a large vertical flux of biogeochemical properties at submesoscales. In addition, submesoscale dynamics generate high lateral strain rates that enhance the variance of biological properties. We present the results of modeling studies that examine the effects of submesoscale processes on biological productivity and property distributions. Using simple models for biology, and measures devised for biological activity, fluxes, and distributions, we attempt to quantify the biological response to submesoscale processes.