Initial results from the Bermuda Testbed Mooring program

Dickey, Tommy D.; Frye, Daniel E.; Jannasch, Holger W.; Boyle, E.; Manov, D.; Sigurdson, David; McNeil, J.; Stramska, Małgorzata; Michaels, Anthony F.; Nelson, N. B.; Siegel, David A.; Chang, Grace; Wu, Jingfeng; Knap, Anthony H.

doi:10.1016/s0967-0637(97)00096-4

Cited by 91 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Recently, new generations of spectral absorptiometers and transmissiometers have been used to monitor spatial (Barth et al 1998) and temporal (Dickey et al 1998) changes in bio-optical properties. The spectral information may allow retrieval of specific biogeochemical quantities.…”

Section: Acknowledgmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuous monitoring of surface optical properties across a geostrophic front: Biogeochemical inferences

Claustre

Fell

Oubelkheir

et al. 2000

Limnology & Oceanography

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A system was designed for the continuous surface monitoring of hydrological, bio-optical, and biogeochemical properties in the vicinity of the Almeria-Oran jet-front system (Northwestern Mediterranean Sea). This system included a thermosalinograph, a fluorometer, an optical particle counter, and an absorbance-attenuance meter (AC9), allowing the estimation of the absorption [a(), (m Ϫ1 )] and scattering [b(), (m Ϫ1 )] coefficients at nine wavelengths. More than 500 multivariate records were acquired over a transect crossing the jet-front system three times and encompassing the diversity of water types encountered in this area. A method is proposed to retrieve relevant biogeochemical or bio-optical quantities, among which are the chlorophyll a concentration [from a(676)], the particulate carbon concentration [from b(555)], the colored dissolved organic matter [CDOM, from a (412)], and the chlorophyll-specific scattering coefficient at 555 nm, b*(555) (m 2 mg Chl a Ϫ1 ). The analyses of these various quantities with respect to the surface hydrodynamic fields reveal two main features. First, the particle pool displays highly dynamic quantitative variations across the frontal structure. Qualitatively, flagellate-dominated populations are associated with moderate density waters and maximal jet velocity, while diatoms are recorded at the narrow limit between the jet-front and the Mediterranean waters, where jet velocity is minimal. Second, the CDOM pool presents remarkable covariations with the surface-density field. In particular, the lowest a CDOM (412) values are reproducibly associated with the highest density values, which track upwelled flow associated with the frontal circulation; accumulation of CDOM is always observed inside the frontal waters, at a density value of 27.2 kg m Ϫ3 . These CDOM variations suggest that the frontal system is the place of enhanced biological activity.Hydrodynamics drive the distribution of phytoplankton in the light and nutrient fields. This forcing determines the productivity of a system, its trophic status, and finally the cycle of biogenic elements. To describe these properties, a proper sampling strategy requires simultaneous description of the physical and biogeochemical fields. For observation conducted at small scale, such a statement is far from being trivial: observations of biogeochemical fields are generally based on measurements performed on discrete samples, and thus cannot be conducted at the same resolution as obser-1 Corresponding author (claustre@obs-vlfr.fr). AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge the financial support of the EEC Coastlooc program (contract ENV4-CT96-0310), of Frontal-ALMOFRONT, PROSOPE, and DYFAMED operations of the PROOF-program and of the CNRS ''Direction des Relations Internationales.'' Kadija Oubelkheir received a CNRS and Région PACA fellowship. We thank Anabelle Cuttelod for the calibrations of the Seatech transmissiometer and fluorometer in POC and chlorophyll a concentrations, respectively. Patrick Chang is thanked for fine tuning the Engl...

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Section: Acknowledgmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuous monitoring of surface optical properties across a geostrophic front: Biogeochemical inferences

Claustre

Fell

Oubelkheir

et al. 2000

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…This effort was based on the experience of the well-known Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (TAO) array of the Equatorial Pacific (McPhaden et al, 1998) and similar developments on multi-parametric measurements at the Bermuda Test-Bed Mooring (Dickey et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main goal of the Bermuda Test-Bed Mooring (BTM) program was to provide to the scientific community a platform for developing, testing and calibrating instruments for long-term monitoring (Dickey, 1995). The system is a fixed mooring with a surface buoy equipped with instruments for meteorological and spectral radiometric measurements, while various instruments for physical and biochemical measurements at subsurface and deeper layers are attached on the mooring wire.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediterranean Moored Multi-sensor Array (M3A): system development and initial results

Nittis

Tziavos

Thanos³

et al. 2003

Ann. Geophys.

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Abstract. Operational forecasting of ocean circulation and marine ecosystem fluctuations requires multi-parametric real-time measurements of physical and biochemical properties. The architecture of a system that is able to provide such measurements from the upper-thermocline layers of the Mediterranean Sea is described here. The system was developed for the needs of the Mediterranean Forecasting System and incorporates state-of-the-art sensors for optical and chemical measurements in the upper 100 m and physical measurements down to 500 m. Independent moorings that communicate via hydro-acoustic modems are hosting the sensors. The satellite data transfer and the large autonomy allow for the operation of the system in any open-ocean site. The system has been in pre-operational use in the Cretan Sea since January 2000. The results of this pilot phase indicate that multi-parametric real-time observations with the M3A system are feasible, if a consistent maintenance and recalibration program is followed. The main limitations of the present configuration of M3A are related: (a) to bio-fouling that primarily affects the turbidity and secondarily affects the other optical sensors, and (b) to the limited throughput of the currently used satellite communication system.

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“…In situ instruments have the potential to provide uninterrupted coverage of those parameters amenable to automated recording. Recent advances in measurement of optical properties of natural waters has expanded the parameters available for automated monitoring of aquatic systems (Dickey et al 1998;Chang and Dickey 1999). Optical properties are especially informative because they are determined by 3 parameters: colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), phytoplankton chlorophyll, and suspended particulate matter (SPM).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Spring 2000 phytoplankton bloom in Chesapeake Bay on optical properties and light penetration in the Rhode River, Maryland

Gallegos

Jordan

2002

Estuaries

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Accelerating eutrophication manifest as increasing frequency and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms threatens living resources in many estuaries. Effects of large blooms can be difficult to document because blooms are often unexpected and do not always coincide with scheduled sampling programs. Here we use continuously monitored salinity distributions and optical properties to study the spring bloom of the red tide dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum minimum, in the Rhode River, Maryland, a tributary embayment of upper Chesapeake Bay. Salinity distributions, together with weekly cruise measurements of nutrient concentrations, indicate that the bloom commenced with an influx of nitrate at the mouth due to the arrival of a freshet from the Susquehanna River. Arrival of this freshet at the mouth set up an unstable, inverse salinity gradient within the Rhode River. Continuously monitored absorption and scattering spectra indicated that increases in chlorophyll within the Rhode River initially were due to the influx of chlorophyll that had developed in the main stem of the bay. After the influx, much higher concentrations and steep spatial gradients developed within the Rhode River, subsequent to reduced mixing that accompanied re-establishment of a normal estuarine salinity gradient. We used the monitored absorption and scattering coefficients to determine the effect of the bloom on light attenuation coefficients in the Rhode River. The bloom resulted in a nearly three-fold increase in attenuation coefficient. Attenuation was dominated by chlorophyll in the early stages of the bloom and by detritus after the termination of the bloom. Although the bloom lasted only 20 d, the elevated attenuation coefficients due to the bloom exceeded values that would permit growth of submersed vascular plants for a period of about 45 d.

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Initial results from the Bermuda Testbed Mooring program

Cited by 91 publications

References 45 publications

Continuous monitoring of surface optical properties across a geostrophic front: Biogeochemical inferences

Continuous monitoring of surface optical properties across a geostrophic front: Biogeochemical inferences

The Mediterranean Moored Multi-sensor Array (M3A): system development and initial results

Impact of the Spring 2000 phytoplankton bloom in Chesapeake Bay on optical properties and light penetration in the Rhode River, Maryland

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