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Development of Algorithms for Remote Sensing of Trichodesmium Blooms

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Marine Pelagic Cyanobacteria: Trichodesmium and other Diazotrophs

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 362))

Abstract

Trichodesmium is a major component of the global carbon cycle, but because of its sporadic occurrence it is extremely difficult to study by conventional shipboard methods. Information on the variability and spatial extent of this cyanobacterium is essential for calculation of its contribution to carbon and nitrogen fluxes. Intense surface blooms of Trichodesmium have been observed in satellite imagery from the Coastal Zone Color Scanner and in color photography from the space shuttle, but such reports are rare. To date it is difficult to differentiate Trichodesmium from other species by remote sensing measurements alone.

A consideration of the spectral reflectance and absorption measurements on natural and concentrated populations of Trichodesmium shows that at moderate concentrations, Trichodesmium and other cyanobacteria should be distinguishable from diatoms and dinoflagellates where high spectral resolution data are available. This paper discusses optical data collected from freshly collected Trichodesmium, focussing on narrow spectral absorption features resulting from the nitrogen containing pigments at 495 and 545 nm by phycoerythrin, and at 625 nm by phycocyanin. The specific absorption spectra are used in an optical model to generate reflectance spectra corresponding to different concentrations of Trichodesmium. The detection limits of algorithms based on these features are assessed. The model spectra are also compared to actual reflectance data from a series-dilution experiment. This treatment illustrates the potential to use existing and planned airborne and space craft water color sensors to map Trichodesmium and other cyanobacterial blooms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. G. A. Borstad Associates Ltd, 9865 West Saanich Rd, Sidney, British Columbia, V8L 3S1, Canada

    Gary A. Borstad

  2. Marine Science Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 11794, USA

    Edward J. Carpenter

  3. Institute of Ocean Sciences, PO Box 6000, Sidney, British Columbia, V8L 4B2, Canada

    Jim F. R. Gower

Authors
  1. Gary A. Borstad
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  2. Edward J. Carpenter
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  3. Jim F. R. Gower
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    E. J. Carpenter

  2. Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland, Solomons, Maryland, USA

    D. G. Capone

  3. Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA

    J. G. Rueter

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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Borstad, G.A., Carpenter, E.J., Gower, J.F.R. (1992). Development of Algorithms for Remote Sensing of Trichodesmium Blooms. In: Carpenter, E.J., Capone, D.G., Rueter, J.G. (eds) Marine Pelagic Cyanobacteria: Trichodesmium and other Diazotrophs. NATO ASI Series, vol 362. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7977-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7977-3_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4126-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-7977-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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