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Variability of pigment biomass in the California Current system as determined by satellite imagery. I - Spatial variabilitySpatial variability of chlorophyll in the California Current system was analyzed using Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) imagery. A total of 48 images were analyzed to produce seasonal averages and variances, gradients, and power spectra. Roughly one third to one half of the variance in pigment biomass can be explained by consistent, large-scale gradients. In general, biomass is higher in the north and in nearshore areas. Nearshore areas also have proportionally more small-scale variability than the areas offshore. Slopes of the power spectra for nearshore areas are about -2.2 (for spatial scales of 10-100 km), while slopes for offshore areas are about -3. In addition, the power spectra show evidence of a change in slope at about 10 km, with slopes of about -1 for shorter-length scales. This may indicate that biological processes dominate the smaller scales, while mesoscale eddies and geostrophic currents dominate the larger scales.
Document ID
19880067901
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Smith, Raymond C.
(California Univ. Santa Barbara, CA, United States)
Zhang, Xueyun
(California Univ. Santa Barbara, CA, United States)
Michaelsen, Joel
(California, University Santa Barbara, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
September 20, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 93
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
88A55128
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-290
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-273
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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