Regional models for phytoplankton absorption as a function of chlorophyll a concentration

Empirical relationships for predicting phytoplanktonic absorption at 676 and 436 nm from water column chlorophyll a concentration are presented for distinct geographic regions defined by latitude. The forms of the predictive equations are controlled by underlying biological mechanisms and lend insight into these mechanisms. These region‐specific models allow prediction of phytoplanktonic absorption from more easily measured parameters such as chlorophyll a concentration or in situ fluorescence and increase accuracy in modeling optical properties or primary production rates from specific absorption coefficients. Phytoplanktonic absorption can be predicted from chlorophyll a concentrations estimated from satellite‐based ocean color measurements. Temperate and tropical regions exhibited statistically indistinguishable relationships at low chlorophyll so these regions were combined and treated as one. Nonlinear relationships between phytoplanktonic absorption at both 436 and 676 nm and chlorophyll a concentration for the combined temperate/tropical region suggested that pigment packaging effects were important and variable. Higher slopes between absorption and chlorophyll a at low chlorophyll supported the concept of low pigment packaging effects (thus higher specific absorption) in oligotrophic, low chlorophyll a waters. Subpolar waters displayed a distinct pattern and were defined as a separate region. Near‐linear and linear relationships between phytoplanktonic absorption at 436 and 676 nm and chlorophyll a concentration indicated that influences of pigment packaging on phytoplankton specific absorption coefficients were relatively constant and uncoupled from water column chlorophyll a concentration in the subpolar region. Optical depth correlated inversely with specific absorption at 436 nm in the subpolar region, illustrating the role of photoadaptation in determining specific absorption and predictive relationships. Differences between predictive quadratic equations for particulate and phytoplanktonic absorption indicated that detritus made only a small contribution to the nonlinear nature of the relationships. Absorption by detritus at 436 nm ranged from 25 to 90% of the total particulate absorption. The proportion of absorption by detritus did not exhibit any strong patterns as a function of chlorophyll a concentration, arguing against the previously invoked explanation that proportional increases in absorption by detritus as environments become more oligotrophic cause the observed nonlinearity between absorption and chlorophyll a concentration.