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Biogeosciences Discuss., 8, 7859-7919, 2011
www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/8/7859/2011/ doi:10.5194/bgd-8-7859-2011 © Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. |
Characterization of the bio-optical anomaly and diurnal variability of the particulate matter, as seen from the scattering and backscattering coefficients, in ultra-oligotrophic eddies of the Mediterranean Sea
1INSU-CNRS, UMR8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et des Géosciences, Université Lille Nord de France, ULCO, 32 avenue Foch, 62930 Wimereux, France
2INSU-CNRS, LOV, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, UMR7093, Université Paris VI, Villefranche sur mer, France
3INSU-CNRS, UMR7621, LOMIC, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls/mer, France
4UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR7621, LOMIC, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne, Observatoire Océanologique, 66650 Banyuls/mer, France
5INSU-CNRS, UMR6535, LOPB, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Biogéochimique, Université de la Méditerranée, Centre d'Océanologie de Marseille, Campus de Luminy Case 901, 13288 Marseille cedex 9, France
Abstract. The variability of the inherent optical properties is investigated in the ultra-oligotrophic waters of the Mediterranean Sea sampled during the BOUM experiment performed during the early summer 2008. Bio-optical relationships found for the ultra-oligotrophic waters of the three anticyclonic gyres sampled significantly depart from the mean standard relationships provided for the global ocean, confirming the particular character of these Mediterranean waters. These optical anomalies are diversely related to the specific biological and environmental conditions occurring in the studied ecosystem. Specifically, the surface specific phytoplankton absorption coefficient exhibits values lower than those expected from the general relationships mainly in relation with a high contribution of relatively large sized phytoplankton. Conversely, the particulate backscattering coefficient, bbp, values are much higher than the mean standard values for a given chlorophyll-a concentration, TChl-a. This feature can presumably be related to the relevant influence of highly refractive submicrometer particles of Saharan origin in the surface layer of the water column. The present measurements also show that the Mediterranean Sea is greener than TChl-a alone indicates, as already stressed in previous studies. This color anomaly is partly explained by the estimated colored dissolved organic matter and submicrometer particles absorption coefficients, and to a greater extent by the high bbp/TChl-a values assuming that these particles backscatter light similarly in the green and blue parts of the visible spectrum. The diel variation of both the particulate matter attenuation and backscattering coefficients were also investigated specifically. Despite some differences in the timing and the magnitude of the daily oscillations found for these optical parameters, potential for the backscattering coefficient daily oscillation to be used, similarly to that for the attenuation coefficient, as a proxy for estimating carbon community production budget has been highlighted for the first time. This result is particularly relevant for present and future geostationary spatial ocean color missions.
Citation: Loisel, H., Vantrepotte, V., Norkvist, K., Mériaux, X., Kheireddine, M., Ras, J., Pujo-Pay, M., Combet, Y., Leblanc, K., Mauriac, R., Dessailly, D., and Moutin, T.: Characterization of the bio-optical anomaly and diurnal variability of the particulate matter, as seen from the scattering and backscattering coefficients, in ultra-oligotrophic eddies of the Mediterranean Sea, Biogeosciences Discuss., 8, 7859-7919, doi:10.5194/bgd-8-7859-2011, 2011.