Two databases derived from BGC-Argo float measurements for marine biogeochemical and bio-optical applications

Abstract

Abstract. Since 2012, an array of 105 Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) floats has been deployed across the world's oceans to assist in filling observational gaps that are required for characterizing open-ocean environments. Profiles of biogeochemical (chlorophyll and dissolved organic matter) and optical (single-wavelength particulate optical backscattering, downward irradiance at three wavelengths, and photosynthetically available radiation) variables are collected in the upper 1000 m every 1 to 10 days. The database of 9837 vertical profiles collected up to January 2016 is presented and its spatial and temporal coverage is discussed. Each variable is quality controlled with specifically developed procedures and its time series is quality-assessed to identify issues related to biofouling and/or instrument drift. A second database of 5748 profile-derived products within the first optical depth (i.e., the layer of interest for satellite remote sensing) is also presented and its spatiotemporal distribution discussed. This database, devoted to field and remote ocean color applications, includes diffuse attenuation coefficients for downward irradiance at three narrow wavebands and one broad waveband (photosynthetically available radiation), calibrated chlorophyll and fluorescent dissolved organic matter concentrations, and singlewavelength particulate optical backscattering. To demonstrate the applicability of these databases, data within the first optical depth are compared with previously established bio-optical models and used to validate remotely derived bio-optical products. The quality-controlled databases are publicly available from the SEANOE (SEA scieNtific Open data Edition) publisher at https://doi.org/10.17882/49388 and https://doi.org/10.17882/47142 for vertical profiles and products within the first optical depth, respectively.

Mediterranean ocean colour Level 3 operational multi-sensor processing

“…A similar analysis from Organelli et al (2017) shows that satellite data overestimate the BGC-Argo-derived Kd490 for values below 0.1 m −1 (their Fig. 11).…”

Assessing the Variability in the Relationship Between the Particulate Backscattering Coefficient and the Chlorophyll a Concentration From a Global Biogeochemical‐Argo Database

“…The recently launched network of BGC‐Argo profiling floats is progressively transforming our capability to observe optical properties and biogeochemical processes in the oceans (Biogeochemical‐Argo Planning Group, ; Claustre et al, ; IOCCG, ; Johnson & Claustre, ). The current BGC‐Argo bio‐optical database has drastically increased over recent years and now encompasses observations collected in a broad range of hydrological, trophic, and bio‐optical conditions encountered in the world's open oceans (Organelli et al, ). Based on homogeneous measurements and processing methodologies, this database offers a unique opportunity to comprehensively reassess bio‐optical relationships.…”

Merging bio-optical data from Biogeochemical-Argo floats and models in marine biogeochemistry

“…Their wide use has been also a consequence of refined sensorcalibration and data quality-control procedures that have been applied on acquired profiles (see Organelli et al, 2016Organelli et al, , 2017.…”

“…General remarks are illustrated in the Conclusions section. ), derived from fluorescence measurements between 0 and 1000 m (see Organelli et al, 2017;Roesler et al, 2017), and radiometric quantities, such as downward planar irradiance (E d ) at three different wavelengths (λ = 380, 412 and 490 nm, units of…”

“…Due to a factory calibration bias in the Chl a estimation from fluorescence, a correction factor of 0.5 was applied over the global ocean database for WETLABS ECO series Chl fluorometers after having compared fluorescence-derived values with the ones obtained by high performance liquid chromatography -HPLC (Roesler et al, 2017;Barbieux et al, 2018;Organelli et al, 2017).…”