Space-based lidar measurements of global ocean carbon stocks

Behrenfeld, MJ, Huang, Y, Hostetler, CA, Dall’Olmo, G, Rodier, SD, Hair, JW and Trepte, CR 2013 Space-based lidar measurements of global ocean carbon stocks. Geophysical Research Letters, 40 (16). 4355-4360. https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50816

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Abstract/Summary

Global ocean phytoplankton biomass (C-phyto) and total particulate organic carbon (POC) stocks have largely been characterized from space using passive ocean color measurements. A space-based light detection and ranging (lidar) system can provide valuable complementary observations for C-phyto and POC assessments, with benefits including day-night sampling, observations through absorbing aerosols and thin cloud layers, and capabilities for vertical profiling through the water column. Here we use measurements from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) to quantify global C-phyto and POC from retrievals of subsurface particulate backscatter coefficients (b(bp)). CALIOP b(bp) data compare favorably with airborne, ship-based, and passive ocean data and yield global average mixed-layer standing stocks of 0.44 Pg C for C-phyto and 1.9 Pg for POC. CALIOP-based C-phyto and POC data exhibit global distributions and seasonal variations consistent with ocean plankton ecology. Our findings support the use of spaceborne lidar measurements for advancing understanding of global plankton systems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Subjects:	Earth Observation - Remote Sensing Earth Sciences Oceanography
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > National Centre for Earth Observation Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Sea from Space (expired)
Depositing User:	Giorgio Dall'Olmo
Date made live:	05 Aug 2014 13:44
Last Modified:	21 Feb 2018 12:16
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/6145

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