Primary productivity of the tropical western Atlantic Ocean near Barbados

Forty-four measurements of net primary productivity by ¹⁴C fixation were made at a station near Barbados, West Indies, over a period of 22 months; in addition 12 measurements were made at 7 deep-water stations in the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean. Average daily production was 0.288 g C/m² and estimated annual net production 105 g C/m². There was no evidence of seasonal variations in the rate of primary production nor of significant differences between production at the principal station and the additional deep-water stations. The data are, therefore, considered to be representative of the rate of primary production in this part of the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean and not significantly affected by proximity to land.