Deriving phytoplankton biomass in the Marginal Ice Zone from satellite observable parameters

Abstract

Water mass properties and sea ice history have a significant impact on the vertical distribution of phytoplankton in the Marginal Ice Zone of the northern Barents Sea. A method is suggested to identify the phase and magnitude of the phytoplankton bloom based on satellite observable values of chlorophyll-a, temperature, salinity and sea ice history. For each bloom phase, formulae are provided for calculation of the chlorophyll-a column from satellite-equivalent measurements of chlorophyll-a.

Acknowledgments

We thank Józef Wiktor, Institute for Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, for participation in the collections of water samples. This project was partly funded by the partners of the Barents Sea Production Licenses 182, 225 and 228 (i.e. Norsk Hydro, Statoil, Petoro, Agis, Chevron, Fortum, Enterprise). The SSM/I data were obtained from the National Snow and Ice Data Center, USA.

Notes

^*Present address: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway; e-mail: [email protected]

An updated version of a paper originally presented at Oceans from Space ‘Venice 2000’ Symposium, Venice, Italy, 9–13 October 2000.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

O. Engelsen*

*Present address: Norwegian Institute for Air Research, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway; e-mail: [email protected]