Bio‐optical modeling of photosynthetic production in coastal waters

• DOI: 10.4319/lo.1989.34.8.1524
• Publication Date: 2010-04-10T01:37:21Z
• Authors: R. C. Smith; B. B. Prezelin; R. R. Bidigare; Baker K. S.
• Keywords: Photosynthetically active radiation; Quantum yield

A physiological‐based bio‐optical model is used to estimate vertical profiles of instantaneous, diurnal, and integrated daily rates in situ primary production throughout the water column at three stations across a coastal front. The makes use an empirical relationship between photosynthesis, quantum yield, photosynthetically absorbed radiation full spectral with all relevant parameters determined as function wavelength. In prior application this model, yield irradiance were wavelength‐independent held constant. Here, recast so that estimated wavelength‐dependent photosynthesis‐irradiance parameters, P max maximum rate phytoplankton I k P‐I saturation parameter, which are allowed vary depth time day. Both ‐dependent (assumed be λ‐independent) (known λ‐dependent) estimates temporal/spatial changes assessed. was tested masses where net‐to‐nanoplankton transition occurring communities dominated by diatoms prymnesiophytes. At each station there close agreement 14 C productivity derived from knowledge diurnal patterns two variants based on pigmentation. also show similar for either instantaneous or values. When compared estimates, photosynthetic give closer match than ‐dependent. permits calculation shipboard observations may useful predicting data provided untended buoys.