SeaWiFS Primary Production, integrated down to the 0.1% level

JRC-GLOBAL-SEAWIFSPP-OBS

Remote Sensing datasets

Gridded (analysis)

General description : Monthly mean global primary production integrated down to the 0.1% light level in mgC.m-2.d-1 processed at the Joint Research Centre.
Processing information : The primary production calculations are done using monthly global maps of surface concentrations of chlorophyll a provided as SeaWiFS product (Reprocessing 5.1) by the Goddard Space Flight Centre (NASA). Temporal characteristics: This dataset comprises of standard mapped image monthly mean global primary production maps at 9km resolution (L3 product).
Description of observation/calibration information : Primary productivity has been computed with a wavelength- and depth-resolved model, essentially following the principles found in Longhurst et al. (1995). It uses biogeographical provinces (Longhurst 1998) to define the values of the photosynthetic parameters of the light-photosynthesis curve and the structure of the chlorophyll vertical profile. Photosynthetic parameters have been updated on the basis of an extended data set provided by the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and an extensive literature review. Spectral surface irradiance is estimated with the model of Gregg and Carder (1990) combined with a correction for cloud cover (Melin et al. 2004). Spectral light is subsequently propagated in the water column with a bio-optical model with updated parameterizations of the inherent optical properties. All changes to the original implementation of Longhurst et al. (1995) are detailed by Melin (2003).
Quality/accuracy/calibration information : Point wise validation can reveal an accuracy of a factor of two.
Suitability, expected type of users/uses : The product is suitable for studies of ecosystem dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. It is also designed for assimilation into models operated by the Mersea forecasting TEPs as these users need products with appropriate documentation and assessed uncertainties.
References :

• Gregg, W.W., Carder, K.L., 1990. A simple spectral irradiance model for cloudless maritime atmospheres. Limnol. Oceanogr., 35, 1657-1675.
• Longhurst, A.R., Sathyendranath, S., Platt, T. and Caverhill, C., 1995. An estimate of global primary production in the ocean from satellite radiometer data. Journal of Plankton Res., 17, 1245-1271.- Longhurst, A.R., 1998. Ecological Geography of the Sea. San Diego: Academic Press, 398pp.
• Melin, F., 2003. Potentiel de la teledetection pour l'analyse des proprietes optiques du systeme ocean-atmosphere et application a l'estimation de la photosynthese phytoplanctonique. PhD, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France, 514 pp.
• Melin, F., Challis, J., Hoepffner, N., 2004: Photosynthetically Available Radiation : A practical approach for global applications. JRC Publication, EUR Report 21016 EN, 60pp.

• net_primary_productivity_of_carbon,kg m-2 s-1,CF

Global scale

0.0833 degree

from 0 to 0 meters.