Decline in satellite-derived primary production in the north-east Atlantic driven by changes in sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth

Tilstone, GH and Land, PE 2026 Decline in satellite-derived primary production in the north-east Atlantic driven by changes in sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth. Frontiers in Remote Sensing, 7. 10.3389/frsen.2026.1703257

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2026.1703257

Abstract/Summary

Phytoplankton Primary Production supports most of the marine ecosystem and is highly sensitive to changing environmental pressures. There is much debate about whether marine primary production is increasing or decreasing and what environmental parameters may be driving these changes. We analysed a 21-year time-series of net primary production (NPP) computed from Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) data spanning September 1997-December 2018, focusing on areas of similar phenology, climatology, and annual NPP in the north-east Atlantic Ocean. Across the entire area, NPP increased from 1998 to 2003, followed by a significant decline until 2018. This pattern was predominant in north-western European coastal waters and specific areas of the English Channel, Irish Sea, North Sea and Norwegian Sea, where it was related to changes in sea surface temperature and mixed layer depth.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Divisions: Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > Western Channel Observatory
Depositing User: S Hawkins
Date made live: 30 Jun 2026 12:34
Last Modified: 30 Jun 2026 12:34
URI: https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10629

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