SeaWiFS satellite ocean color data from the Southern Ocean Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • SeaWiFS estimates of surface chlorophyll. concentrations are reported for the region of the U.S. JGOFS study in the Southern Ocean ( 170 W, 60 S). Elevated chlorophyll was observed at the Southern Ocean fronts, near the edge of the seasonal ice sheet, and above the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. The elevated chlorophyll levels associated with the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge are surprising since even the crest of the ridge is at depths > 2000 m. This elevated phytoplankton biomass is likely the result of mesoscale physical-biological interactions where the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) encounters the ridge. Four cruises surveyed this region between October 1997 and March 1998, as part of the U.S. JGOFS. Satellite-derived chlorophyll concentrations were compared with in situ extracted chlorophyll measurements from these cruises. There was good agreement (r2 of 0.72, from a linear regression of shipboard vs. satellite chlorophyll), although SeaWiFS underestimated chlorophyll concentrations relative to the ship data. Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.

published proceedings

  • GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS

author list (cited authors)

  • Moore, J. K., Abbott, M. R., Richman, J. G., Smith, W. O., Cowles, T. J., Coale, K. H., Gardner, W. D., & Barber, R. T.

citation count

  • 107

complete list of authors

  • Moore, JK||Abbott, MR||Richman, JG||Smith, WO||Cowles, TJ||Coale, KH||Gardner, WD||Barber, RT

publication date

  • May 1999