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Interpretation of the coastal zone color scanner signature of the Orinoco River plumeThe Caribbean Sea is an area that traditionally has been considered oligotrophic, even though the Orinoco River contributes large quantities of fresh water, nutrients, and other dissolved material to this region during the wet boreal (fall) season. Little is known about the impact of this seasonal river plume, which extends from Venezuela to Puetro Rico shortly after maximum discharge. Here, we present results from a study of the bio-optical characteristics of the Orinoco River plume during the rainy season. The objective was to determine whether the coastal zone color scanner (CZCS) and the follow-on sea-viewing wide-field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS) satellite instrument can be used to assess the concentrations of substances in large river plumes. Recent in situ shipboard measurements were compared to values from representative historical CZCS images using established bio-optical models. Our goal was to deconvolve the signatures of colored dissolved organic carbon and phytoplankton pigments within satellite images of the Orinoco River plume. We conclude that the models may be used for case 2 waters and that as much as 50 percent of the remotely sensored chlorophyll biomass within the plume is an artifact due to the presence of dissolved organic carbon. Dissolved organic carbon originates from a number of sources, including decay of dead organisms, humic materials from the soil, and gelbstoff.
Document ID
19950029618
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Hochman, Herschel T.
(Univ. of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL United States)
Mueller-Karger, F. E.
(Univ. of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL United States)
Walsh, John J.
(Univ. of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
April 15, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 99
Issue: C4
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Oceanography
Accession Number
95A61217
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-678
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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