Quantitative observation of cyanobacteria and diatoms from space using PhytoDOAS on SCIAMACHY data

Abstract. In this study the technique of Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) has been adapted for the retrieval of the absorption and biomass of two major phytoplankton groups (PhytoDOAS) from data of the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) satellite sensor. SCIAMACHY measures back scattered solar radiation in the UV-Vis-NIR spectral regions with a high spectral resolution (0.2 to 1.5 nm). In order to identify phytoplankton absorption characteristics in the SCIAMACHY data in the range of 430 to 500 nm, phytoplankton absorption spectra measured in-situ during two different RV "Polarstern" expeditions were used. The two spectra have been measured in different ocean regions where different phytoplankton groups (cyanobacteria and diatoms) dominated the phytoplankton composition. Results clearly show distinct absorption characteristics of the two phytoplankton groups in the SCIAMACHY spectra. Using these results in addition to calculations of the light penetration depth derived from DOAS retrievals of the inelastic scattering (developed by Vountas et al., 2007), globally distributed pigment concentrations for these characteristic phytoplankton groups for two monthly periods (February–March 2004 and October–November 2005) were determined. This satellite information on cyanobacteria and diatoms distribution clearly matches the concentrations based on high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment analysis of collocated water samples and concentrations derived from a global model analysis with the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (Gregg et al., 2003; Gregg and Casey 2007). The quantitative assessment of the distribution of key phytoplankton groups from space enables various biogeochemical regions to be distinguished and will be of great importance for the global modeling of marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles which enables the impact of climate change in the oceanic biosphere to be estimated.

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Quantitative observation of cyanobacteria and diatoms from space using PhytoDOAS on SCIAMACHY data

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-5-4559-2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 4559-4590 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Bracher ◽

M. Vountas ◽

T. Dinter ◽

J. P. Burrows ◽

R. Röttgers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Marine Ecosystem ◽

High Spectral Resolution ◽

Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Global Modelling ◽

Phytoplankton Absorption ◽

Scanning Imaging ◽

Optical Paths ◽

Globally Distributed ◽

Absorption Characteristics

Abstract. In this study the technique Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) has been adapted for the retrieval of the absorption and biomass of two major phytoplankton groups (PhytoDOAS) from data of the satellite sensor Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY). SCIAMACHY measures back scattered solar radiation in the UV-Vis-NIR spectral region with a high spectral resolution (0.2 to 1.5 nm). In order to identify phytoplankton absorption characteristics in SCIAMACHY data in the range of 430 to 500 nm, phytoplankton absorption spectra measured in-situ during two different RV "Polarstern" expeditions were used. The two spectra have been measured in different ocean regions where different phytoplankton groups (cyanobacteria and diatoms) dominated the phytoplankton composition. Results show clearly different absorption characteristics of the phytoplankton groups in the SCIAMACHY spectra. Globally distributed pigment concentrations for these characteristic phytoplankton groups for two monthly periods (February–March 2004 and October–November 2005) were derived from these differential absorptions by including the information of the sensor's optical paths within the water column (i.e. light penetration depth) according to Vountas et al. (2007) derived from DOAS fits of inelastic scattering. The satellite retrieved information on cyanobacteria and diatoms distribution matches well the concentrations measured at collocated water samples with HPLC technique and concentrations derived from the global model analysis with the NOBM model (Gregg et al., 2003; Gregg and Casey, 2007). Identifying quantitative distribution of key phytoplankton groups from space allow to distinguish various biogeochemical provinces and will be of great importance for the global modelling of marine ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles addressing climate changes in the oceanic biosphere.

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Spectral studies of ocean water using DOAS

Ocean Science Discussions ◽

10.5194/osd-4-459-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 459-489

Author(s):

M. Vountas ◽

T. Dinter ◽

A. Bracher ◽

J. P. Burrows ◽

B. Sierk

Keyword(s):

Spectral Studies ◽

Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Retrieval Technique ◽

Phytoplankton Absorption ◽

Visible Wavelengths ◽

Scanning Imaging ◽

Atmospheric Trace Gas ◽

First Time ◽

Chlorophyll Concentrations

Abstract. Methods enabling the retrieval of oceanic parameter from the space borne instrumentation Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric ChartographY (SCIAMACHY) using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) are presented. SCIAMACHY onboard ENVISAT measures back scattered solar radiation at a spectral resolution (0.2 to 1.5 nm). The DOAS method was used for the first time to fit modelled Vibrational Raman Scattering (VRS) in liquid water and in situ measured phytoplankton absorption reference spectra to optical depths measured by SCIAMACHY. Spectral structures of VRS and phytoplankton absorption were clearly found in these optical depths. Both fitting approaches lead to consistent results. DOAS fits correlate with estimates of chlorophyll concentrations: low fit factors for VRS retrievals correspond to large chlorophyll concentrations and vice versa; large fit factors for phytoplankton absorption correspond with high chlorophyll concentrations and vice versa. From these results a simple retrieval technique taking advantage of both measurements is shown. First maps of global chlorophyll concentrations were compared to the corresponding MODIS measurements with very promising results. In addition, results from this study will be used to improve atmospheric trace gas DOAS-retrievals from visible wavelengths by including these oceanographic signatures.

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A reactivity continuum of particulate organic matter in a global ocean biogeochemical model

10.5194/bg-2016-374 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olivier Aumont ◽

Marco van Hulten ◽

Matthieu Roy-Barman ◽

Jean-Claude Dutay ◽

Christian Ethé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Critical Role ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Sediment Oxygen Demand ◽

Global Ocean ◽

Biogeochemical Model ◽

Mesopelagic Zone ◽

Ocean Biogeochemical Model ◽

The Impact ◽

Reactivity Continuum

Abstract. The marine biological carbon pump is dominated by the vertical transfer of Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) from the surface ocean to its interior. The efficiency of this transfer plays an important role in controlling the amount of atmospheric carbon that is sequestered in the ocean. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of POC is critical for the removal of numerous trace elements by scavenging, a number of which such as iron are essential for the growth of marine organisms, including phytoplankton. Observations and laboratory experiments have shown that POC is composed of numerous organic compounds that can have very different reactivities. Yet, this variable reactivity of POC has never been extensively considered, especially in modeling studies. Here, we introduced in the global ocean biogeochemical model NEMO-PISCES a description of the variable composition of POC based on the theoretical Reactivity Continuum Model proposed by (Boudreau and Ruddick, 1991). Our model experiments show that accounting for a variable lability of POC increases POC concentrations in the ocean’s interior by one to two orders of magnitude. This increase is mainly the consequence of a better preservation of small particles that sink slowly from the surface. Comparison with observations is significantly improved both in abundance and in size distribution. Furthermore, the amount of carbon that reaches the sediments is increased by more than a factor of two, which is in better agreement with global estimates of the sediment oxygen demand. The impact on the major macro-nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) remains modest. However, iron (Fe) distribution is strongly altered, especially in the upper mesopelagic zone as a result of more intense scavenging: Vertical gradients in Fe are milder in the upper ocean which appears to be closer to observations. Thus, our study shows that the variable lability of POC can play a critical role in the marine biogeochemical cycles which advocates for more dedicated in situ and laboratory experiments.

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Spectral studies of ocean water with space-borne sensor SCIAMACHY using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS)

Ocean Science ◽

10.5194/os-3-429-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 429-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

M. Vountas ◽

T. Dinter ◽

A. Bracher ◽

J. P. Burrows ◽

B. Sierk

Keyword(s):

Optical Absorption ◽

Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Spectral Studies ◽

Optical Absorption Spectroscopy ◽

Retrieval Technique ◽

Phytoplankton Absorption ◽

Visible Wavelengths ◽

Scanning Imaging ◽

Chlorophyll Concentrations

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Distribution of planktonic biogenic carbonate organisms in the Southern Ocean south of Australia: a baseline for ocean acidification impact assessment

10.5194/bg-2017-219 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thomas W. Trull ◽

Abraham Passmore ◽

Diana M. Davies ◽

Tim Smit ◽

Kate Berry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern Ocean ◽

Biogeochemical Model ◽

Biogenic Carbonate ◽

Antarctic Waters ◽

Calcite Saturation ◽

Ocean Biogeochemical Model ◽

Ocean Ecosystems ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

Abundant Phytoplankton ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The Southern Ocean provides a vital service by absorbing about one sixth of humankind's annual emissions of CO2. This comes with a cost – an increase in ocean acidity that is expected to have negative impacts on ocean ecosystems. The reduced ability of phytoplankton and zooplankton to precipitate carbonate shells is a clearly identified risk. The impact depends on the significance of these organisms in Southern Ocean ecosystems, but there is very little information on their abundance or distribution. To quantify their presence, we used coulometric measurement of particulate inorganic carbonate (PIC) on particles filtered from surface seawater into two size fractions: 50–1000 μm to capture foraminifera (the most important biogenic carbonate forming zooplankton) and 1–50 μm to capture coccolithophores (the most important biogenic carbonate forming phytoplankton). Ancillary measurements of biogenic silica (BSi) and particulate organic carbon (POC) provided context, as estimates of the abundance of diatoms (the most abundant phytoplankton in polar waters), and total microbial biomass, respectively. Results for 9 transects from Australia to Antarctica in 2008–2015 showed low levels of PIC compared to northern hemisphere polar waters. Coccolithophores slightly exceeded the biomass of diatoms in Subantarctic waters, but their abundance decreased more than 30-fold poleward, while diatom abundances increased, so that on a molar basis PIC was only 1 % of BSi in Antarctic waters. This limited importance of coccolithophores in the Southern Ocean is further emphasized in terms of their associated POC, representing less than 1 % of total POC in Antarctic waters and less than 10 % in Subantarctic waters. NASA satellite ocean colour based PIC estimates were in reasonable agreement with (though somewhat higher than) the shipboard results in Subantarctic waters, but greatly over-estimated PIC in Antarctic waters. Contrastingly, the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) shows coccolithophores as overly restricted to Subtropical and northern Subantarctic waters. The cause of the strong southward decrease in PIC abundance in the Southern Ocean is not yet clear. Poleward decrease in pH is small and while calcite saturation decreases strongly southward it remains well above saturation (> 2). Nitrate and phosphate variations would predict a poleward increase. Temperature and competition with diatoms for limiting iron appear likely to be important. While the future trajectory of coccolithophore distributions remains uncertain, their current low abundances suggest small impacts on overall Southern Ocean pelagic ecology.

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Distribution of planktonic biogenic carbonate organisms in the Southern Ocean south of Australia: a baseline for ocean acidification impact assessment

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-15-31-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 31-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Thomas W. Trull ◽

Abraham Passmore ◽

Diana M. Davies ◽

Tim Smit ◽

Kate Berry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Southern Ocean ◽

Biogeochemical Model ◽

Biogenic Carbonate ◽

Antarctic Waters ◽

Calcite Saturation ◽

Ocean Biogeochemical Model ◽

Ocean Ecosystems ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

The Impact ◽

Inorganic Carbonate

Abstract. The Southern Ocean provides a vital service by absorbing about one-sixth of humankind's annual emissions of CO2. This comes with a cost – an increase in ocean acidity that is expected to have negative impacts on ocean ecosystems. The reduced ability of phytoplankton and zooplankton to precipitate carbonate shells is a clearly identified risk. The impact depends on the significance of these organisms in Southern Ocean ecosystems, but there is very little information on their abundance or distribution. To quantify their presence, we used coulometric measurement of particulate inorganic carbonate (PIC) on particles filtered from surface seawater into two size fractions: 50–1000 µm to capture foraminifera (the most important biogenic carbonate-forming zooplankton) and 1–50 µm to capture coccolithophores (the most important biogenic carbonate-forming phytoplankton). Ancillary measurements of biogenic silica (BSi) and particulate organic carbon (POC) provided context, as estimates of the biomass of diatoms (the highest biomass phytoplankton in polar waters) and total microbial biomass, respectively. Results for nine transects from Australia to Antarctica in 2008–2015 showed low levels of PIC compared to Northern Hemisphere polar waters. Coccolithophores slightly exceeded the biomass of diatoms in subantarctic waters, but their abundance decreased more than 30-fold poleward, while diatom abundances increased, so that on a molar basis PIC was only 1 % of BSi in Antarctic waters. This limited importance of coccolithophores in the Southern Ocean is further emphasized in terms of their associated POC, representing less than 1 % of total POC in Antarctic waters and less than 10 % in subantarctic waters. NASA satellite ocean-colour-based PIC estimates were in reasonable agreement with the shipboard results in subantarctic waters but greatly overestimated PIC in Antarctic waters. Contrastingly, the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) shows coccolithophores as overly restricted to subtropical and northern subantarctic waters. The cause of the strong southward decrease in PIC abundance in the Southern Ocean is not yet clear. The poleward decrease in pH is small, and while calcite saturation decreases strongly southward, it remains well above saturation ( > 2). Nitrate and phosphate variations would predict a poleward increase. Temperature and competition with diatoms for limiting iron appear likely to be important. While the future trajectory of coccolithophore distributions remains uncertain, their current low abundances suggest small impacts on overall Southern Ocean pelagic ecology.

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Variable reactivity of particulate organic matter in a global ocean biogeochemical model

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-14-2321-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 2321-2341 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Olivier Aumont ◽

Marco van Hulten ◽

Matthieu Roy-Barman ◽

Jean-Claude Dutay ◽

Christian Éthé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Critical Role ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Sediment Oxygen Demand ◽

Global Ocean ◽

Biogeochemical Model ◽

Mesopelagic Zone ◽

Modelling Studies ◽

Ocean Biogeochemical Model ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The marine biological carbon pump is dominated by the vertical transfer of particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface ocean to its interior. The efficiency of this transfer plays an important role in controlling the amount of atmospheric carbon that is sequestered in the ocean. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of POC is critical for the removal of numerous trace elements by scavenging, a number of which, such as iron, are essential for the growth of marine organisms, including phytoplankton. Observations and laboratory experiments have shown that POC is composed of numerous organic compounds that can have very different reactivities. However, this variable reactivity of POC has never been extensively considered, especially in modelling studies. Here, we introduced in the global ocean biogeochemical model NEMO-PISCES a description of the variable composition of POC based on the theoretical reactivity continuum model proposed by Boudreau and Ruddick (1991). Our model experiments show that accounting for a variable lability of POC increases POC concentrations in the ocean's interior by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. This increase is mainly the consequence of a better preservation of small particles that sink slowly from the surface. Comparison with observations is significantly improved both in abundance and in size distribution. Furthermore, the amount of carbon that reaches the sediments is increased by more than a factor of 2, which is in better agreement with global estimates of the sediment oxygen demand. The impact on the major macronutrients (nitrate and phosphate) remains modest. However, iron (Fe) distribution is strongly altered, especially in the upper mesopelagic zone as a result of more intense scavenging: vertical gradients in Fe are milder in the upper ocean, which appears to be closer to observations. Thus, our study shows that the variable lability of POC can play a critical role in the marine biogeochemical cycles which advocates for more dedicated in situ and laboratory experiments.

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EXPLORING CONTROLS ON THE MARINE BARIUM CYCLE USING A SPATIALLY RESOLVED OCEAN BIOGEOCHEMICAL MODEL

10.1130/abs/2020am-358266 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Samantha Carter ◽

◽

Elizabeth M. Griffith ◽

Arne Winguth ◽

Teresa Beaty

Keyword(s):

Biogeochemical Model ◽

Spatially Resolved ◽

Ocean Biogeochemical Model

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The impact of the microphysical properties of aerosol on the atmospheric correction of hyperspectral data in coastal waters

Atmospheric Measurement Techniques ◽

10.5194/amt-8-1593-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 1593-1604 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

C. Bassani ◽

C. Manzo ◽

F. Braga ◽

M. Bresciani ◽

C. Giardino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Accuracy Assessment ◽

Atmospheric Correction ◽

Solar Spectrum ◽

Hyperspectral Data ◽

High Spectral Resolution ◽

Quality Analysis ◽

Microphysical Properties ◽

Quantitative Remote Sensing ◽

The Impact ◽

Aerosol Types

Abstract. Hyperspectral imaging provides quantitative remote sensing of ocean colour by the high spectral resolution of the water features. The HICO™ (Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean) is suitable for coastal studies and monitoring. The accurate retrieval of hyperspectral water-leaving reflectance from HICO™ data is still a challenge. The aim of this work is to retrieve the water-leaving reflectance from HICO™ data with a physically based algorithm, using the local microphysical properties of the aerosol in order to overcome the limitations of the standard aerosol types commonly used in atmospheric correction processing. The water-leaving reflectance was obtained using the HICO@CRI (HICO ATmospherically Corrected Reflectance Imagery) atmospheric correction algorithm by adapting the vector version of the Second Simulation of a Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum (6SV) radiative transfer code. The HICO@CRI algorithm was applied on to six HICO™ images acquired in the northern Mediterranean basin, using the microphysical properties measured by the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (AAOT) AERONET site. The HICO@CRI results obtained with AERONET products were validated with in situ measurements showing an accuracy expressed by r2 = 0.98. Additional runs of HICO@CRI on the six images were performed using maritime, continental and urban standard aerosol types to perform the accuracy assessment when standard aerosol types implemented in 6SV are used. The results highlight that the microphysical properties of the aerosol improve the accuracy of the atmospheric correction compared to standard aerosol types. The normalized root mean square (NRMSE) and the similar spectral value (SSV) of the water-leaving reflectance show reduced accuracy in atmospheric correction results when there is an increase in aerosol loading. This is mainly when the standard aerosol type used is characterized with different optical properties compared to the local aerosol. The results suggest that if a water quality analysis is needed the microphysical properties of the aerosol need to be taken into consideration in the atmospheric correction of hyperspectral data over coastal environments, because aerosols influence the accuracy of the retrieved water-leaving reflectance.

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Transformative Urban Changes of Beijing in the Decade of the 2000s

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12040652 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 652

Author(s):

Alessandro Sorichetta ◽

Son V. Nghiem ◽

Marco Masetti ◽

Catherine Linard ◽

Andreas Richter

Keyword(s):

Urban Area ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Rapid Economic Growth ◽

Time Period ◽

Development Policies ◽

Decadal Trend ◽

Scanning Imaging ◽

Seawinds Scatterometer ◽

The Impact ◽

Dense Sampling

The rapid economic growth, the exodus from rural to urban areas, and the associated extreme urban development that occurred in China in the decade of the 2000s have severely impacted the environment in Beijing, its vicinity, and beyond. This article presents an innovative approach for assessing mega-urban changes and their impact on the environment based on the use of decadal QuikSCAT (QSCAT) satellite data, acquired globally by the SeaWinds scatterometer over that period. The Dense Sampling Method (DSM) is applied to QSCAT data to obtain reliable annual infrastructure-based urban observations at a posting of ~1 km. The DSM-QSCAT data, along with different DSM-based change indices, were used to delineate the extent of the Beijing infrastructure-based urban area in each year between 2000 and 2009, and assess its development over time, enabling a physical quantification of its urbanization which reflects the implementation of various development policies during the same time period. Eventually, as a proxy for the impact of Beijing urbanization on the environment, the decadal trend of its infrastructure-based urbanization is compared with that of the corresponding tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column densities as observed from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) instrument aboard the second European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2) between 2000 and 2002, and from the SCanning Imaging Absorption SpectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY aboard of the ESA’s ENVIronmental SATellite (SCIAMACHY /ENVISAT) between 2003 and 2009. Results reveal a threefold increase of the yearly tropospheric NO2 column density within the Beijing infrastructure-based urban area extent in 2009, which had quadrupled since 2000.

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