Model method of vertical chlorophyll concentration reconstruction from satellite data

Abstract

A model, describing the influence of external factors on temporal evolution of phytoplankton distribution in a horizontally-homogenous water layer, is presented. This model is based upon the reactiondiffusion equation and takes into account the main factors of influence: mineral nutrients, insolation and temperature. The mineral nutrients and insolation act oppositely on spatial phytoplankton distribution. The results of numerical modeling are presented and the prospect of applying this model to reconstruction of phytoplankton distribution from sea-surface satellite data is discussed. The model was used to estimate the chlorophyll content of the Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan).

Keywords

• mathematical model
• Chlorophyll
• microturbulent diffusion
• mineral nutrients
• insolation
• temperature
• remote sensing