Predictive Model for Satellite-Derived Phytoplankton Absorption Over the Louisiana Shelf Hypoxic Zone: Effects of Nutrients and Physical Forcing; Journal article

摘要

We investigated environmental forcing mechanisms of phytoplankton absorption near the Mississippi River delta using multi-year satellite data. An algorithm for the phytoplankton absorption coefficient was developed from in situ measurements and applied to ocean color imagery. We employed a suite of chemical and physical forcing variables, including surface currents. For satellite-derived time series (2002-2004) correlation and stepwise regression analyses revealed the most important forcing variables on the Louisiana shelf. Mississippi River discharge and nitrate concentration were the two most important predictors over the hypoxic zone (defined by its maximum extent).