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A four-dimensional simulation is used to depict biological and physical processes in the Gulf Stream front, specifically phytoplankton biomass. While jet meandering was found to enhance productivity at the front, winds have little impact because of their temporal variability. Ring-stream interactions raise net meridional and vertical nutrient transports, which can increase phytoplankton patchiness.

A mesoscale-resolution, three-dimensional time-evolving ocean model was combined with both biological and physical data assimilation and found to significantly extend the value of observations, as compared to the observations alone. Techniques are also presented to derive dynamically consistent biological and physical estimates for use in the model.

A new stoichiometric formula for the average composition of the organic tissue of marine phytoplanktons. The formula gives reasonable estimate of oxygen and hydrogen content. From this formula the -O2/P ratio which is the ratio of oxygen released and phosphorous incorporated, ranges between 140 and 160. The stoichiometric formulas for protein, carbohydrate, lipid and nucleic acid give the elemental composition of the organic matter.