Editing Ocean thermal energy conversion (section)

=== Biological modeling ===

The nutrients from an OTEC discharge could potentially cause increased biological activity if they accumulate in large quantities in the [[photic zone]].<ref name="hydroplume" /> In 2011 a biological component was added to the hydrodynamic computer model to simulate the biological response to plumes from 100 megawatt OTEC plants. In all cases modeled (discharge at 70 meters depth or more), no unnatural variations occurs in the upper 40 meters of the ocean's surface.<ref name="bioplume" /> The picoplankton response in the 110 - 70 meter depth layer is approximately a 10–25% increase, which is well within naturally occurring variability. The nanoplankton response is negligible. The enhanced productivity of diatoms (microplankton) is small. The subtle phytoplankton increase of the baseline OTEC plant suggests that higher-order biochemical effects will be very small.<ref name="bioplume" />