Spatial, temporal and spectral scale of POC estimations for the Kuroshio Extension from satellite based observations in the wintertime

Abstract

[author abstract] Particulate organic carbon (POC) is proportional to the amount of phytoplankton in the ocean. This relationship enables net primary productivity (NPP) to be estimated via the use of remotely sensed POC estimates. This research investigates the applicability of a backscatter to POC relationship in a region where estimated POC has not been calibrated against in situ sampling. Water samples were collected from a transect of the Kuroshio Extension region of the North Pacific Ocean during February and March of 2013. Due to frequent cloud cover during the cruise, data available for comparison was limited, highlighting one of the difficulties when depending upon satellite observations. When comparisons were possible I found that satellite based POC estimations significantly underrepresented measured POC values. These results suggest that data products of satellite observations cannot be used to quantitatively describe small scale processes in complex ocean regions like the Kuroshio.