Mishonov, A.V., W.D. Gardner and M.J. Richardson

Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3146, Tel: 979-862-6674, Fax: 979-845-6331, E-mail: avm@ocean.tamu.edu

Global POC distribution in the upper ocean derived from JGOFS, WOCE and SeaWiFS data

Discrete samples of particulate organic carbon concentration obtained in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans during the entire JGOFS program were used to calibrate synchronously measured beam attenuation profiles for continuous POC determination. The resulting regressions were applied to a global set of WOCE, SAVE, and other beam attenuation data collected in our lab in order to assess horizontal and vertical distribution of the POC. POC concentration averaged over one attenuation depth of the upper ocean was related to the SeaWiFS-derived ocean color products (Chl, K490, Lwn555). A correlation coefficient of 0.82 was obtained for a log-regression of POC and normalized water-leaving radiance at 555 nm in the South Atlantic. Based on our ocean-wide regressions global seasonal maps of the surface POC concentrations were created.