Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing
Phytoplankton bloom phenology studies are fundamental for the understanding of marine ecosystems. Mismatches between fish spawning and plankton peak biomass will become more frequent with climate change, highlighting the need for thorough phenology studies in coastal areas. This study was the first...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/4/675 |
| _version_ | 1797396646543228928 |
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| author | Afonso Ferreira Vanda Brotas Carla Palma Carlos Borges Ana C. Brito |
| author_facet | Afonso Ferreira Vanda Brotas Carla Palma Carlos Borges Ana C. Brito |
| author_sort | Afonso Ferreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phytoplankton bloom phenology studies are fundamental for the understanding of marine ecosystems. Mismatches between fish spawning and plankton peak biomass will become more frequent with climate change, highlighting the need for thorough phenology studies in coastal areas. This study was the first to assess phytoplankton bloom phenology in the Western Iberian Coast (WIC), a complex coastal region in SW Europe, using a multisensor long-term ocean color remote sensing dataset with daily resolution. Using surface chlorophyll <i>a</i> (chl-<i>a</i>) and biogeophysical datasets, five phenoregions (i.e., areas with coherent phenology patterns) were defined. Oceanic phytoplankton communities were seen to form long, low-biomass spring blooms, mainly influenced by atmospheric phenomena and water column conditions. Blooms in northern waters are more akin to the classical spring bloom, while blooms in southern waters typically initiate in late autumn and terminate in late spring. Coastal phytoplankton are characterized by short, high-biomass, highly heterogeneous blooms, as nutrients, sea surface height, and horizontal water transport are essential in shaping phenology. Wind-driven upwelling and riverine input were major factors influencing bloom phenology in the coastal areas. This work is expected to contribute to the management of the WIC and other upwelling systems, particularly under the threat of climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:54:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52b9b9ef01c846efbcbaa29c5408112e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:54:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-52b9b9ef01c846efbcbaa29c5408112e2023-12-11T16:57:16ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-02-0113467510.3390/rs13040675Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote SensingAfonso Ferreira0Vanda Brotas1Carla Palma2Carlos Borges3Ana C. Brito4MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, PortugalMARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, PortugalIH—Instituto Hidrográfico, Rua das Trinas 49, 1200-677 Lisbon, PortugalIH—Instituto Hidrográfico, Rua das Trinas 49, 1200-677 Lisbon, PortugalMARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, PortugalPhytoplankton bloom phenology studies are fundamental for the understanding of marine ecosystems. Mismatches between fish spawning and plankton peak biomass will become more frequent with climate change, highlighting the need for thorough phenology studies in coastal areas. This study was the first to assess phytoplankton bloom phenology in the Western Iberian Coast (WIC), a complex coastal region in SW Europe, using a multisensor long-term ocean color remote sensing dataset with daily resolution. Using surface chlorophyll <i>a</i> (chl-<i>a</i>) and biogeophysical datasets, five phenoregions (i.e., areas with coherent phenology patterns) were defined. Oceanic phytoplankton communities were seen to form long, low-biomass spring blooms, mainly influenced by atmospheric phenomena and water column conditions. Blooms in northern waters are more akin to the classical spring bloom, while blooms in southern waters typically initiate in late autumn and terminate in late spring. Coastal phytoplankton are characterized by short, high-biomass, highly heterogeneous blooms, as nutrients, sea surface height, and horizontal water transport are essential in shaping phenology. Wind-driven upwelling and riverine input were major factors influencing bloom phenology in the coastal areas. This work is expected to contribute to the management of the WIC and other upwelling systems, particularly under the threat of climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/4/675phytoplankton communitiesWestern Iberian coastremote sensingphenoregionscoastal upwellingdrivers of phenology |
| spellingShingle | Afonso Ferreira Vanda Brotas Carla Palma Carlos Borges Ana C. Brito Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing Remote Sensing phytoplankton communities Western Iberian coast remote sensing phenoregions coastal upwelling drivers of phenology |
| title | Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing |
| title_full | Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing |
| title_short | Assessing Phytoplankton Bloom Phenology in Upwelling-Influenced Regions Using Ocean Color Remote Sensing |
| title_sort | assessing phytoplankton bloom phenology in upwelling influenced regions using ocean color remote sensing |
| topic | phytoplankton communities Western Iberian coast remote sensing phenoregions coastal upwelling drivers of phenology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/4/675 |
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