Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-28-2018
Department
Biological Sciences
School
Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Abstract
ield and laboratory experiments are designed to measure Sargassum biomass per area (density), surface reflectance, nutrient contents, and pigment concentrations. An Alternative Floating Algae Index (AFAI)‐biomass density model is established to link the spectral reflectance to Sargassum biomass density, with a relative uncertainty of ~ 12%. Monthly mean integrated Sargassum biomass in the Caribbean Sea and Central West Atlantic reached at least 4.4 million tons in July 2015. The average % C, % N, and % P per dry‐weight are 27.16, 1.06, and 0.10, respectively. The mean chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a) concentration is ~ 0.05% of the dry‐weight. With these parameters, the amounts of nutrients and pigments can be estimated directly from remotely sensed Sargassum biomass. During bloom seasons, Sargassum carbon can account for ~ 18% of the total particulate organic carbon in the upper water column. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of the overall Sargassum biomass, nutrients, and pigment abundance from remote‐sensing observations, thus helping to quantify their ecological roles and facilitate management decisions.
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
45
Issue
22
First Page
12359
Last Page
12367
Recommended Citation
Wang, M.,
Hu, C.,
Cannizzaro, J.,
English, D.,
Han, X.,
Naar, D.,
Lapointe, B.,
Brewton, R.,
Hernandez Jr., F.
(2018). Remote Sensing of Sargassum Biomass, Nutrients, and Pigments. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(22), 12359-12367.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15589
Comments
"Mengqiu Wang et al, 2018, Remote Sensing of Sargassum Biomass, Nutrients, and Pigments, Geophysical Research Letters, 45, Citation number, 10.1029/2018GL078858. To view the published open abstract, go to https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078858