Testing the Concept of an Optimal Stability ‘Window’

The effects of the interplay between light and macronutrient supplies on oceanic primary production leads to the concept of an optimal stability window (Gargett 1997). When coupled with expected oceanic effects of extreme phases in variation of the winter/spring atmospheric circulation in the North Pacific, this concept results in a possible explanation for observations of (1) correlation between overall North Pacific salmon stock size and strength of the Aleutian Low Pressure system and (2) anti-correlation between northern (Alaska) and southern (Oregon and northern California) stocks within the eastern Pacific. This paper addresses the question of hypothesis testing.