Assessing the uncertainties of phytoplankton absorption-based model estimates of marine net primary productivity

Satellite-derived phytoplankton pigment absorption （aph） has been used as a key predictor of phytoplankton photosynthetic efficiency to estimate global ocean net primary production （NPP）. In this study, an aph-based NPP model （AbPM） with four input parameters including the photosynthetically available radiation （PAR）, diffuse attenuation at 490 nm （Ka（490））, euphotic zone depth （Zeu） and the phytoplankton pigment absorption coefficient （aph） is compared with the chlorophyll-based model and carbon-based model. It is found that the AbPM has significant advantages on the ocean NPP estimation compared with the chlorophyll-based model and carbon- based model. For example, AbPM greatly outperformed the other two models at most monitoring sites and had the best accuracy, including the smallest values of RMSD and bias for the NPP estimate, and the best correlation between the observations and the modeled NPPs. In order to ensure the robustness of the model, the uncertainty in NPP estimates of the AbPM was assessed using a Monte Carlo simulation. At first, the frequency histograms of simple difference （fi）, and logarithmic difference （~LOG） between model estimates and in situ data confirm that the two input parameters （Zeu and PAR） approximate the Normal Distribution, and another two input parameters （aph and Ka（490）） approximate the logarithmic Normal Distribution. Second, the uncertainty in NPP estimates in the AbPM was assessed by using the Monte Carlo simulation. Here both the PB （percentage bias）, defined as the ratio of ANPP to the retrieved NPP, and the CV （coefficient of variation）, defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean are used to indicate the uncertainty in the NPP brought by input parameter to AbPM model. The uncertainty related to magnitude is denoted by PB and the uncertainty related to scatter range is denoted by CV. Our investigations demonstrate that PB of NPP uncertainty brought by all parameters with an annual mean of 5.5% covered a range of -5%-15% for the global ocean. The PB uncertainty of AbPM model was mainly caused by aph; the PB of NPP uncertainty brought by aph had an annual mean of 4.1% for the global ocean. The CV brought by all the parameters with an annual mean of 105% covered a range of 98%-134% for global ocean. For the coastal zone of Antarctica with higher productivity, the PB and CV of NPP uncertainty brought by all parameters had annual means of 7.1% and 121%, respectively, which are significantly larger than those obtained in the global ocean. This study suggests that the NPPs estimated by AbPM model are more accurate than others, but the magnitude and scatter range of NPP errors brought by input parameter to AbPM model could not be neglected, especially in the coastal area with high productivity. So the improving accuracy of satellite retrieval of input parameters should be necessary. The investigation also confirmed that the SST related correction is effective for improving the model accuracy in low temperature condition.

Diverse foraging strategies of breeding Swinhoe's Storm-petrel in the productive marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific

Understanding the foraging behavior is essential for investigating seabird ecology and conservation,as well as monitoring the well-being of the marine environment.Breeding seabirds adopt diverse foraging strategies to maximize energy gains and cope with the intensified challenges of parenting and self-maintenance.Such tradeoff may stem from the heterogeneity of food resources and the constraints of central place foraging.Nevertheless,abundant marine productivity could alleviate the energy limitation for seabirds,resulting in a consistent foraging approach.Here,we investigated the foraging strategy during the breeding season of a cryptic small-sized seabird,Swinhoe’s Storm-petrel(Hydrobates monorhis),in the Yellow Sea,a productive marginal sea of the Northwest Pacific.Using GPS tracking,we evaluated habitat preference,quantified the foraging strategy,and tested if environmental conditions and individual traits influence foraging trips.We found that Swinhoe’s Storm-petrels preferred nearshore areas with shallow water and engaged in primarily short foraging trips.Distinctive southeastward and southwestward strategies emerged when combining trip metrics,including foraging direction,duration,and maximum distance.The bathymetry,proximity to the coastline,and sea surface temperature differed in two foraging strategies.Foraging strategies exhibited flexibility between individuals,potentially explained by wing morphology,in which longer-winged birds are more likely to embark on longer-distance foraging trips.These findings highlight the impact of environmental factors and individual traits on seabirds’foraging decisions in productive marginal sea ecosystems.Our study also provides valuable insights into the foraging ecology of this Asian endemic storm-petrel.

Satellite remote sensing of ultraviolet irradiance on the ocean surface

Ultraviolet （UV） radiation has a significant influence on marine biological processes and primary productivity; however, the existing ocean color satellite sensors seldom contain UV bands. A look-up table of wavelength- integrated UV irradiance （280-400 nm） on the sea surface is established using the coupled ocean atmosphere radiative transfer （COART） model. On the basis of the look-up table, the distributions of the UV irradiance at middle and low latitudes are inversed by using the satellite-derived atmospheric products from the Aqua satellite, including aerosol optical thickness at 550 nm, ozone content, liquid water path, and the total precipitable water. The validation results show that the mean relative difference of the 10 d rolling averaged UV irradiance between the satellite retrieval and field observations is 8.20% at the time of satellite passing and 13.95% for the daily dose of UV. The monthly-averaged UV irradiance and daily dose of UV retrieved by satellite data show a good correlation with the in situ data, with mean relative differences of 6.87% and 8.43%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of satellite inputs is conducted. The liquid water path representing the condition of cloud has the highest effect on the retrieval of the UV irradiance, while ozone and aerosol have relatively lesser effect. The influence of the total precipitable water is not significant. On the basis of the satellite-derived UV irradiance on the sea surface, a preliminary simple estimation of ultraviolet radiation＇s effects on the global marine primary productivity is presented, and the results reveal that ultraviolet radiation has a non-negligible effect on the estimation of the marine primary productivity.

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on marine primary production with reference to satellite remote sensing

Incubation experiments have shown that ultra- violet radiation （UVR） has significant influences on marine primary production （MPP）. However, existing satellite remote sensing models of MPP only consider the effects of visible light radiation, ignoring the UVR. Additionally, the ocean color satellite data currently used for MPP estimation contain no UV bands. To better understand the mechanism of MPP model development with reference to satellite remote sensing, including UVR＇s effects, we first reviewed recent studies of UVR＇s effects on phytoplankton and MPP, which highlights the need for improved satellite remote sensing of MPP. Then, based on current MPP models using visible radiation, we discussed the quantitative methods used to implement three key model variables related to UVR： the UVR intensity at the sea surface, the attenuation of UVR in the euphotic layer, and the maximum or optimal photosynthetic rate, con- sidering the effects of UVR. The implementation of these UVR-related variables could be useful in further assessing UVR＇s effects on the remote sensing of MPP, and in re- evaluating our existing knowledge of MPP estimation at large spatial scales and long-time scales related to global change.

Characterization and acid-mobilization study for typical iron- bearing clay mineral

In this study, iron speciation in five standard clay samples was characterized. Iron mobilization from these clays was then measured in acidic media. For comparison, a commercially available Arizona test dust （ATD） was also observed. The results showed that the free-Fe contents of clays were commonly lower than that of dust aerosols. The components of clays were dominant by the structural Fe held in the aluminosilicate lattice. The iron solubility of the clays were in the order of KGa-2 〉 SWy-2 〉 CCa-2 〉 IMt-2 〉 NAu- 2. Based upon the M6ssbauer spectrum and transmission electron microscopy （TEM） analysis, the Fe（Ⅱ） fraction and the Fe/Si ratio of clay particles changed after dissolution, suggesting the total Fe solubility depended on the Fe atom states existing within the aluminosilicate lattice. The Fe in KGa-2 and SWy-2 was most likely substituted for alkaline elements as the interlayer ions held by ionic bonds in the aluminosilicate, which are more liable to dissolution. However, the Fe in NAu-2 was more likely to be bound by strong covalent bonds in aluminosilicate mineral, which is less soluble. The much highly soluble Fe in ATD was not only linked to the dissolution of an appreciable fraction of Fe（Ⅱ）, but also could be attributed to the fact that the Fe bonds in the clay fraction of ATD were mainly present as ionic bonds. The TEM images showed that reacted clay particles displayed less aggregate particles, with nanoparticle aggregates and the Fe/S-rich tiny particles attached to the remains.