Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS08 Processes at the Benthic Interface (Environmental Connections)

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001, Time: 12:15:00 PM

Location: Ruidoso/Pecos

Nelson, J, R, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, USA, nelson@skio.peachnet.edu

Robertson, C, Y, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, USA, charles@skio.peachnet.edu

Jahnke, R, A, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Savannah, USA,

A REGIONAL VIEW OF BENTHIC PRIMARY PRODUCTION ON A CONTINENTAL SHELF BASED ON SEAWIFS IMAGERY

Benthic diatoms contribute significantly to primary production on the continental shelf off the SE U.S., where sediments are permeable sands. In situ benthic chamber studies, and ship and laboratory P-E experiments, indicate that variability in areal benthic primary production on the Georgia shelf is largely driven by light availability. Based on irradiance profiles, a regional relationship was developed predicting water column attenuation for PAR (KPAR) from surface layer attenuation at 490 nm (K490). SeaWiFS K490 imagery is combined with shelf bathymetry to estimate optical depths for PAR at the sediment surface. Continuous measurements of above- and in-water PAR are obtained from offshore platforms (SABSOON program). The SeaWiFS and in situ observations provide a regional view of PAR flux to the benthos, and potential benthic primary production. These are strongly influenced by seasonal bio-optical and physical variability on the shelf. It is proposed that the efficiency of light utilization for photosynthesis is enhanced when the shelf euphotic zone extends to the sediments; a result of high microalgal biomass, and the optical and chemical microenvironment in the permeable sands.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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