Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC02 Optical Studies in Aquatic Ecosystems

Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Cota, G, F, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, cota@ccpo.odu.edu

THE BIO-OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ARCTIC SEAS

Based on 12 cruises in Arctic and Subarctic waters, their bio-optical properties are markedly different than lower latitude marine ecosystems, and perhaps even some Antarctic waters. The current SeaWiFS (OC4V4) algorithm tends to underestimate high chlorophyll concentrations but overestimates low values. Important differences in the relative abundance or properties of major constituents have been documented. Colored dissolved organic materials account for only ~40% of total nonwater absorption in the blue-green, but do not co-vary closely with chlorophyll. Despite relatively high background concentrations, nonpigmented particulate materials represent a small portion of the total particulate absorption in phytoplankton blooms. Biomass-specific absorption by phytoplankton is relatively low due to a high but variable degree of pigment packaging. Diatoms tend to have lower chlorophyll-specific absorption and more highly packaged pigments than other dominant groups such as prymnesiophytes. However, given limited ranges, overlap, and small samples taxon-specific algorithms remain premature.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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