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Article
Remote Sensing of Sargassum Biomass, Nutrients, and Pigments
Geophysical Research Letters
  • Mengqiu Wang, University of South Florida
  • Chuanmin Hu, University of South Florida
  • Jennifer Cannizzaro, University of South Florida
  • David English, University of South Florida
  • Xingxing Han, University of South Florida
  • David Naar, University of South Florida
  • Brian Lapointe, Florida Atlantic University
  • Rachel Brewton, Florida Atlantic University
  • Frank Hernandez, University of Southern Mississippi
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2018
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078858
Disciplines
Abstract

Field and laboratory experiments are designed to measure Sargassum biomass per area (density), surface reflectance, nutrient contents, and pigment concentrations. An alternative floating algae index-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.

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Citation / Publisher Attribution

Geophysical Research Letters, v. 45, issue 22, p. 12,359-12,367

©2018. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Citation Information
Mengqiu Wang, Chuanmin Hu, Jennifer Cannizzaro, David English, et al.. "Remote Sensing of Sargassum Biomass, Nutrients, and Pigments" Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 45 Iss. 22 (2018) p. 12,359 - 12,367
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david-naar/36/