Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6383694 Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 2014 6 Pages PDF
Abstract
Measurements of net primary production (P) combined with calculated estimates of phytoplankton respiration (Rp) and gross primary production (G) are used to determine the depth of the ocean's euphotic zone, the autotrophic productive layer. The base of the euphotic zone, the compensation depth (where P=0 and G=Rp), is found to be consistently deeper than the traditionally assumed '1% light depth'. It is found to occur, however, at a depth that encompasses the depth range of all, or nearly all, autotrophic biomass. The estimated compensation depth also occurs near the depth of 1% of surface blue light (490 nm), supporting the determination of the ocean's productive layer from satellite ocean color sensors.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Geology
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