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The satellite-derived distribution of chlorophyll-a and its relation to ice cover, radiation and sea surface temperature in the Barents Sea

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Abstract

The response of oceanic phytoplankton to climate forcing in the Arctic Ocean has attracted increasing attention due to its special geographical position and potential susceptibility to global warming. Here, we examine the relationship between satellite-derived (sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor, SeaWiFS) surface chlorophyll-a (CHL) distribution and climatic conditions in the Barents Sea (30–35°E, 70–80°N) for the period 1998–2002. We separately examined the regions north and south of the Polar Front (∼76°N). Although field data are rather limited, the satellite CHL distribution was generally consistent with cruise observations. The temporal and spatial distribution of CHL was strongly influenced by the light regime, mixed layer depth, wind speed and ice cover. Maximum CHL values were found in the marginal sea-ice zone (72–73°N) and not in the ice-free region further south (70–71°N). This indicates that melt-water is an important contributor to higher CHL production. The vernal phytoplankton bloom generally started in late March, reaching its peak in late April. A second, smaller CHL peak occurred regularly in late summer (September). Of the 5 years, 2002 had the highest CHL production in the southern region, likely due to earlier ice melting and stronger solar irradiance in spring and summer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Roger Cropp for technical assistance, and Dr. Paul Wassmann as a Chief Scientist for organizing the ALV cruises. The authors also wish to thank the SeaWiFS Project (Code 970.2) and the Distributed Active Archive Centre (Code 902) at the Goddard Space Flight Centre, Greenbelt, MD 20771, for the production and distribution of the SeaWiFS data, respectively. These activities are sponsored by NASA’s Mission to Planet Earth Program (http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov). The Quikscat/SeaWinds and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer data were obtained from the NASA Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Centre at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology (http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov). The SSMI data were provided by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov). The NODC (Levitus) World Ocean Atlas 1994 data were provided by the NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Centre, Boulder, Colorado (http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/). The World Ocean Atlas 1998 was supplied by the Ocean Climate Laboratory, National Oceanographic Data Centre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov). The metrological data such as cloud cover was provided by Steven J. Worley from Data Support Section, NCAR/SCD (http://www.dss.ucar.edu). Finally, we gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant.

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  1. School of Australian Environmental Studies, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, Australia

    Bo Qu & Albert J. Gabric

  2. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, ME, USA

    Patricia A. Matrai

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  1. Bo Qu
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  2. Albert J. Gabric
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Correspondence to Bo Qu.

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Qu, B., Gabric, A.J. & Matrai, P.A. The satellite-derived distribution of chlorophyll-a and its relation to ice cover, radiation and sea surface temperature in the Barents Sea. Polar Biol 29, 196–210 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0040-2

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