Aspects of satellite and subsatellite studies of chlorophyll-a in Arctic waters

Abstract

Field studies of chlorophyll-a concentrations in high latitudes of Arctic waters (above 75° N) are limited due to the difficult ice conditions, while satellite studies are limited due to high clouds in the region. Full-scale data of chlorophyll concentration in the pelagial of the Barents Sea for 2013-2019 were included in the database at ArcGIS 10 platform. Comparison and correlation analysis of full-scale and satellite data (open NASA databases) at the same points for the same dates were carried out. A general underestimation of the satellite concentrations of chlorophyll-a was revealed for most stations. Time coverage of +/- 3 days produced a significant error in the verification results. Within the 1-2-day difference, the percentage of deviations decreased, but the tendency to underestimate satellite concentrations in relation to in-situ values persisted.

Effects of Climate Change on Chlorophyll a in the Barents Sea: A Long-Term Assessment

“…Planktonic microalgae can react to climatic changes, and this may be encountered through integral parameters such as primary production, total annual stock, phytoplankton abundance, and biomass [10,31]. Chl-a is a good indicator of phytoplankton density in the Arctic and, therefore, may be used to predict environmental responses of pelagic microalgae to environmental perturbations [35,36,39]. Our data suggest an overall positive response of the phytoplankton to warming noted in the Arctic and, in particular, in the Barents Sea.…”

“…SeaWiFS and MODIS satellite imageries provide data on the Chl-a content in the surface layers. Ocean color remote sensing requires the development of accurate algorithms and high-quality input data, which are not always available [35,36], especially in high-latitude regions. Arctic-specific algorithms can be applied successfully when parameterized correctly [37].…”