North Atlantic Oscillation and spring bloom phytoplankton composition in the English Channel

The spring phytoplankton composition has been investigated at a 50 m deep station off Plymouth in the English Channel for 6 years (1993-1999). The percentage of diatoms during the spring bloom was significantly correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation index. A similar relationship between phytoplankton and North Atlantic Oscillation has also been found in a Swedish lake, suggesting a possible link between atmospheric forcing and phytoplankton composition.