NASA/TM-1998-104566, Vol. 42 SeaWiFS Technical Report Series Stanford B. Hooker, Editor Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland Elaine R. Firestone, Technical Editor General Sciences Corporation, Laurel, Maryland Volume 42, Satellite Primary Productivity Data and Algorithm Development: A Science Plan for Mission to Planet Earth Paul G. Falkowski and Michael J. Behrenfeld, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York Wayne E. Esaias, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland William Balch, RSMAS/University of Miami, Miami, Florida Janet W. Campbell, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire Richard L. lverson, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida Dale A. Kiefer, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California Andr_ Morel, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Marines, Villefranche-sur-Mer, FRANCE James A. Yoder, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 January 1998 Available from: NASACenter for AeroSpace Information National Technical Information Service 800 Elkxidge Landing Road 5285 Port Royal Road Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-2934 Springfield, VA 22161 Price Code: A17 Price Code: A10 Satellite Primary Productivity Data and Algorithm Development: A Science Plan for Mission to Planet Earth PREFACE he scope of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project encompasses a broad variety of topics, as evidenced by the myriad subjects covered in the Sea WiFS Technical Report Series. Each of the so-called case studies volumes, as well as the calibration topic volumes, contain several chapters discussing topics germane to the subject of calibration and validation. In a departure from this, Volume 42, discusses topics germane to the issue of primary productivity--a critical part of the SeaWiFS Project. This volume further demonstrates both the breadth and complexity of the issues that the Project must address, and provides further justification for primary productivity research. The chapters in this volume present discussions regarding: a) The use of satellite data to derive primary productivity in the world ocean; and b) The progress made toward a consensus productivity algorithm for SeaWiFS. Greenbelt, Maryland --C. R. McClain September 1997 Falkowski,Behrenfeld,Esaias,Balch,Campbell,Iverson,Kiefer,Morel,andYoder Table of Contents Prologue .................................................................................................1 1. Using Satellite Data to Derive Primary Productivity in the World Ocean ............................ 2 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 2 1.2 Life on Earth ...................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Phytoplankton Diversity ........................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Photosynthetic Processes .......................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Time-Dependent Algorithms ....................................................................... 6 1.3 Parameterization Issues ............................................................................ 8 1.3.1 Recommendations ................................................................................. 8 1.4 Model Integration Levels ........................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Algorithm Evaluation and Selection ............................................................... 10 1.5 Model Forcing .................................................................................... 12 1.5.1 Temperature ..................................................................................... 12 1.5.2 Time Dependency ................................................................................ 14 1.5.3 Research Issues ................................................................................... 14 1.5.4 Implementation .................................................................................. 15 1.5.5 Implementation Recommendations ................................................................ 15 1.6 Ocean Biological Pump ........................................................................... 16 1.7 Conclusion ....................................................................................... 17 2. Toward a Consensus Productivity Algorithm for SeaWiFS .......................................... 18 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 18 2.2 Discussion Results ................................................................................ 19 2.2.1 Algorithm Classification .......................................................................... 19 2.2.2 Algorithm Parameterization ...................................................................... 21 2.2.3 Algorithm Testing and Validation ................................................................. 23 2.3 Concluding Remarks .............................................................................. 24 APPENDIX A: PARTICIPANTS IN THE OPPWG .......................................................... 26 APPENDIX B: WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS? .............................................................. 29 APPENDIX C: WHAT IS PRIMARY PRODUCTION? ........................................................ 29 APPENDIX D: THE ATMOSPHERIC C02 AND 02 CYCLES ................................................ 30 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................... 31 SYMBOLS ................................................................................................ 31 REFERENCES ............................................................................................ 32 THE SEAW1FS TECHNICAL REPORT SERIES ............................................................ 34 111 Falkowski,Behrenfeld,Esaias,Balch, Campbell, Iverson,Kiefer,Morel, and Yoder ABSTRACT Two issuesregarding primary productivity,as it pertainsto the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-viewSensor (Sea- WiFS) Project and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) are presented in thisvolume. Chapter 1 describesthe development of a science plan for deriving primary production forthe world ocean usingsatellitemeasurements by the Ocean Primary Productivity Work- ing Group (OPPWG). Chapter 2 presentsdiscussionsby the same group of algorithm classification,algorithm parameterizationand data availability,algorithmtestingand validation,and the benefitsof a consensus primary productivityalgorithm. Prologue 1. Using Satellite Data to Derive Primary Productivity in the World Ocean The purposes of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view In January 1994, NASA sponsored the first meeting Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project is to obtain validocean color of the Ocean Primary Productivity Working Group (OP- data of the world ocean for a five-yearperiod,to process PWG) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Over the next that data in conjunction with ancillarydata to meaning- 18 months, two other workshops were held, the latest of fulbiologicalparameters, and to make that data readily which was held at GSFC in Greenbelt, Maryland, on 11-13 availableto researchers. The National Aeronautics and June 1996. Thirty-nine participants representing several Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space FlightCen- different countries, including Taiwan, Japan, France, Nor- ter (GSFC) developed a data processing and archiving way, and Canada attended the meeting at GSFC. The ma- system in conjunction with the Earth Observing System jor goal of the workshop was the development of a science Data and Information System (EOSDIS), which includes plan for deriving primary production for the world ocean a ground receivingsystem. from satellite measurements. Results of the workshop are SeaWiFS is a follow-onsensor to the Coastal Zone presented here. This science plan presents a set of consen- Color Scanner (CZCS), which operated aboard NASA's sus recommendations from the scientific community which Nimbus-7 satellitefrom 1978-1986. CZCS started as a are designed to help guide NASA's Mission to Planet Earth one year proof-of-conceptmission to determine ifsatellite (MTPE) programs to use US and international assets as sensorscould, in fact,detectocean colorfrom space. Sur- constructively and productively as possible to achieve its prisingly,the instrument was operationalfor a fulleight goals. years,instead of the anticipatedone year. SeaWiFS im- proves on CZCS by giving global coverageevery 48 hours 2. Toward a Consensus Productivity (which CZCS was not capable ofdoing at all),by givingan Algorithm for SeaWiFS improved atmospheric correctionscheme, and by giving a An OPPWG was formed to discuss the benefits and more accurate determination of phytoplankton concentra- fundamental problems associated with using SeaWiFS and tion.How fastthisconcentrationchanges with time and/or other ocean color satellite measurements for estimating how much photosynthesisisgoing on during the course of oceanic primary production. During the first, and sub- a day is called "primary productivity."It is calledpri- sequent, OPPWG meetings, discussions focused on: 1) mary productivitybecause itisthe critical,initialstep in algorithm classification, including similarities and differ- the food chain. In order to understand the productivityof ences between