J Peloquin – Using MODIS in the Ross Sea, Antarctica 136 USING THE MODERATE RESOLUTION IMAGING SPECTRORADIOMETER (MODIS) TO ESTIMATE PHYTOPLANKTON PROCESSES IN THE

• Main Author: Ross Sea Antarctica
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ross Sea; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.632.2598; http://www.landslidemitigationgroup.org/student_opp/2003_gssp_reports/jillpeloquin.pdf

Abstract. The Southern Ocean has been identified as critical in the global carbon cycle and will unequivocally be affected by changes in global temperature. Thus, it is critical to understand carbon dynamics in the Southern Ocean. The Ross Sea, Antarctica is amongst the most productive areas of the Southern Ocean and represents an area of Deep Water formation. Because of this, the magnitude and interannual variation of carbon production is an important system component to constrain. The first-order goal of this project is to quantitatively estimate chlorophyll a pigment as a proxy for phytoplankton abundance in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. These estimates will then be used in a vertically generalized primary production model to estimate the seasonal potential of the Ross Sea phytoplankton assemblage to fix carbon dioxide into organic matter. In addition, regional estimates of photochemical efficiency will be made in order to strengthen primary production models and determine when the phytoplankton assemblage becomes nutrient limited (presumably by trace metals). Data from images will be sea-truthed with discrete measurements made in conjunction with a field program called interannual variability in the Ross Sea (IVARS). Several years (2000-2004) will then be compared in order to ascertain and constrain interannual variability. These data will be put into the context of a larger field program in order to determine what drives the potential and magnitude of the seasonal phytoplankton bloom. At present, the MODIS Terra images are being reprocessed, thus the primary thrust of this summer’s work has been to establish the infrastructure needed to complete the project goals and learn the processing/analysis language. It is clear from browse images that chlorophyll –a and chlorophyll efficiency does change from year to year.