The effects of suspended glacial sediments on light attenuation and primary productivity in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Abstract

Glacial flour, or the sedimentation resulting from glacial runoff, attenuates light and therefore productivity in the sea. Measurements of primary productivity and light were taken in Glacier Bay to determine the effect of glacial flour. Not as much glacial flour was seen as predicted, but algal biomass also attenuated light. A wide range of primary productivity rates was found.