Spatial Structure of the SeaWiFS Ocean Color Data for the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

As part of a longer-term marine ecosystem modeling project, we examine the spatial structure of satellite-derived ocean color data for the North Atlantic Ocean. Ocean color is considered a proxy for surface layer phytoplankton chlorophyll concentrations, and the large-scale ocean color field is governed by the seasonal distributions of light, nutrients, and upper ocean mixing (e.g., [Wro89]). On the so-called mesoscale (approx. 10–200 km), ocean color variability is modulated by biological sources and sinks (e.g., phytoplankton growth, zooplankton grazing), ocean flow, and mixing [Ste78], [Hau78]. The spatial correlation function of ocean color provides a useful measure for quantifying these biological—physical interactions [Yod87], [Was98], [Abb98] and discriminating among theoretical models. It is also a necessary component of future work to objectively analyze ocean color images (e.g., [Dav86]).