Ocean color variability in the southern Atlantic and southeastern Pacific

Natalia M. Rudorff; Robert J. Frouin; Milton Kampel

doi:10.1117/12.981776

11 December 2012 Ocean color variability in the southern Atlantic and southeastern Pacific

Natalia M. Rudorff, Robert J. Frouin, Milton Kampel

Proceedings Volume 8525, Remote Sensing of the Marine Environment II; 85250N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.981776
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2012, Kyoto, Japan

Abstract

The chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla) of surface waters is commonly retrieved from space using an empirical polynomial function of the maximum band ratio (MBR), i.e., the maximum ratio of remote sensing reflectance in selected spectral bands in the visible. Recent studies have revealed significant deviations in the relation between MBR and Chla across the oceans. The present work aims at accessing the main sources of MBR variability across the Southern Atlantic and South-east Pacific, using in situ data. The data was collected at 19 bio-optical CTD stations and 40 flowthrough stations during a cruise onboard the R/V Melville, from South Africa to Chile (February-March, 2011). The MBR was derived from modeled remote sensing reflectance using absorption and backscattering measurements. The second order MBR variations (MBR*) were obtained after subtraction of a global polynomial fit for CChla and Chla biases. Multivariate analyses were used to explain the variations with bio-optical properties and phytoplankton pigments. Chla overestimations were associated to high specific phytoplankton absorption (0.73), specific particle backscattering coefficient (0.42) and colored dissolved and particle organic matter (CDM) absorption normalized by non-water absorption (0.38), and vice-versa. The overestimations occurred at stations with dominance of small picoplankton, high concentration of bacteria, and high CDM, while underestimations were in microplankton dominated waters and low CDM. The results reveal important relations of the MBR* with the specific coefficient and associated phytoplankton community structure.

Citation Download Citation

Natalia M. Rudorff, Robert J. Frouin, and Milton Kampel "Ocean color variability in the southern Atlantic and southeastern Pacific", Proc. SPIE 8525, Remote Sensing of the Marine Environment II, 85250N (11 December 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.981776

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