The relationship between phytoplankton concentration and light attenuation in ocean watersThe accuracy of chlorophyll estimates by ocean color algorithms is affected by the variability of particulate attenuation; the presence of dissolved organic matter; and the nonlinear inverse relationship between the attenuation coefficient, K, and chlorophyll. Data collected during the Warm Core Rings Program were used to model the downwelling light field and determine the impact of these errors. A possible mechanism for the nonlinearity of K and chlorophyll is suggested; namely, that changing substrate from nitrate-nitrogen to ammonium causes enhanced blue absorption by photosynthetic phytoplankton in oligotrophic surface waters.
Document ID
19870055368
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Phinney, David A. (Bigelow Lab. for Ocean Sciences West Boothbay Harbor, ME, United States)
Yentsch, Charles S. (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences West Boothbay Harbor, ME, United States)