Optical backscattering is correlated with phytoplankton carbon across the Atlantic Ocean

[1] Phytoplankton are an important component of the oceanic carbon cycle. Yet, due to methodological constraints, the carbon biomass of phytoplankton is poorly characterized. To address this limitation, we have explored the bio-optical relationship between in situ measurements of the particle backscattering coefficient at 470 nm, bbp(470), and the phytoplankton carbon concentration for cells with diameter less than 20 µm (Cf). We found a significant relationship between bbp(470) and Cf for Atlantic oceanic waters with chlorophyll-a concentrations less than 0.4 mg m−3 (or bbp(470) < 0.003 m−1). This relationship could be used to estimate Cf from data collected by in situ autonomous platforms and from remote sensing of ocean color.

[1]  S. Maritorena,et al.  Bio-optical properties of oceanic waters: A reappraisal , 2001 .

[2]  P. I. Miller,et al.  Contributions of phytoplankton and bacteria to the optical backscattering coefficient over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge , 2012 .

[3]  H. Bouman,et al.  Carbon-to-chlorophyll ratio and growth rate of phytoplankton in the sea , 2009 .

[4]  Sallie W. Chisholm,et al.  Phytoplankton population dynamics at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series station in the Sargasso Sea , 2001 .

[5]  Hervé Claustre,et al.  Gross community production and metabolic balance in the South Pacific Gyre, using a non intrusive bio-optical method , 2007 .

[6]  P. R. Sloan,et al.  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CARBON CONTENT, CELL VOLUME, AND AREA IN PHYTOPLANKTON , 1966 .

[7]  W. Mccluney,et al.  Estimation of the depth of sunlight penetration in the sea for remote sensing. , 1975, Applied optics.

[8]  Susanne Menden-Deuer,et al.  Carbon to volume relationships for dinoflagellates, diatoms, and other protist plankton , 2000 .

[9]  P. Burkill,et al.  Picoplankton community structure on the Atlantic Meridional Transect: a comparison between seasons , 2000 .

[10]  Dariusz Stramski,et al.  Why Should We Measure the Optical Backscattering Coefficient , 2004 .

[11]  Frede Thingstad,et al.  Elemental composition of single cells of various strains of marine Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus using X‐ray microanalysis , 2003 .

[12]  R. Arnone,et al.  Deriving inherent optical properties from water color: a multiband quasi-analytical algorithm for optically deep waters. , 2002, Applied optics.

[13]  Paul J. Harrison,et al.  Estimating carbon, nitrogen, protein, and chlorophyll a from volume in marine phytoplankton , 1994 .

[14]  G. Tarran,et al.  Latitudinal changes in the standing stocks of nano- and picoeukaryotic phytoplankton in the Atlantic Ocean , 2006 .

[15]  E. Boss,et al.  Particulate optical scattering coefficients along an Atlantic Meridional Transect. , 2012, Optics express.

[16]  P. Holligan,et al.  Phytoplankton mineralization in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean , 2006 .

[17]  W. Balch,et al.  Biominerals and the vertical flux of particulate organic carbon from the surface ocean , 2010 .

[18]  David A. Siegel,et al.  Carbon‐based ocean productivity and phytoplankton physiology from space , 2005 .

[19]  P. Holligan,et al.  Phytoplankton carbon fixation chlorophyll-biomass and diagnostic pigments in the Atlantic Ocean , 2006 .

[20]  Stephen C. Riser,et al.  Observations of pigment and particle distributions in the western North Atlantic from an autonomous float and ocean color satellite , 2008 .

[21]  H. Claustre,et al.  Relationships between the surface concentration of particulate organic carbon and optical properties in the eastern South Pacific and eastern Atlantic Oceans , 2007 .

[22]  E. Marañón,et al.  Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Biomass, Production and Growth in the Atlantic Subtropical Gyres , 1999 .

[23]  Hugh G. Gauch,et al.  Model Evaluation by Comparison of Model-Based Predictions and Measured Values , 2003 .

[24]  J. Paruelo,et al.  How to evaluate models : Observed vs. predicted or predicted vs. observed? , 2008 .

[25]  Patrick M. Holligan,et al.  Basin-scale variability of phytoplankton biomass, production and growth in the Atlantic Ocean , 2000 .

[26]  Hervé Claustre,et al.  Contribution of picoplankton to the total particulate organic carbon concentration in the eastern South Pacific , 2007 .

[27]  G. Tarran,et al.  Picoplanktonic community structure on an Atlantic transect from 50°N to 50°S , 1998 .

[28]  P. Holligan,et al.  Vertical distribution and partitioning of organic carbon in mixed frontal and stratified waters of the English Channel , 1984 .

[29]  Michael J. Behrenfeld,et al.  Significant contribution of large particles to optical backscattering in the open ocean , 2009 .

[30]  Michael J. Behrenfeld,et al.  Beam attenuation and chlorophyll concentration as alternative optical indices of phytoplankton biomass , 2006 .

[31]  R. Olson,et al.  DIEL VARIATIONS IN OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF MICROMONAS PUSILLA (PRASINOPHYCEAE) 1 , 2002 .

[32]  G. Tarran,et al.  Microbial community structure and standing stocks in the NE Atlantic in June and July of 1996 , 2001 .

[33]  Crystal S. Thomas,et al.  Computer-assisted high-performance liquid chromatography method development with applications to the isolation and analysis of phytoplankton pigments. , 2001, Journal of chromatography. A.

[34]  R. R. Strathmann,et al.  ESTIMATING THE ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT OF PHYTOPLANKTON FROM CELL VOLUME OR PLASMA VOLUME1 , 1967 .

[35]  B. C. Booth.  Size classes and major taxonomic groups of phytoplankton at two locations in the subarctic pacific ocean in May and August, 1984 , 1988 .