RECURRENT AND ANOMALOUS ALGAL BLOOMS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEAAS SEEN BY SEAWIFS (1998-2003) *

摘要

Optical remote sensing can highlight recurring and anomalous algal blooms inmarginal and enclosed seas. The SeaWiFS-derived (1998-2003) data set of chlorophylllikepigment concentration was used to monitor phytoplankton growth patterns in theMediterranean basin. Yearly and monthly mean concentrations were computed for thesix years available, and climatological mean images derived. Interannual and seasonalvariabilities were assessed computing yearly and monthly anomalies, as the differencebetween each individual year/month and the corresponding climatological year/month.The analysis of these anomalies provides a novel insight into the Mediterraneanbiological cycles, demonstrating algal blooms dynamics and seasonality, and relatedenvironmental boundary conditions.