335
of these platforms, integrated with the large-scale view provided by satellite coverage, can
give great insight into some of the outstanding problems of the day in oceanography (e.g.
Brown et al., 1985).
Coupling of ship and buoy measurements with those from the satellite will provide the most
effective means to merge the scales of variability in the optical properties of the ocean. The
requirement, which at present remains a goal, is a parameterization of the small scales of
variability, preferably in terms of remote observations, in a form that will be useful in the
development of mesoscale and synoptic scale models of the oceanic optical fields.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND COUPLING TO FLOW CYTOMETRY
Several nations have plans for ocean color sensors in the near future. These planned future
satellite ocean color missions will have better sensor performance in terms of digitization
resolution and signal to noise ratios. This will permit improvements in the bio-optical
algorithms as well. Still, considerable uncertainty will remain in attempts to relate the
measured upwelled radiance to surface chlorophyll concentrations, as well as future estimates
of primary production and upper ocean heating rates. As seen above, the principle uncertainty
in the biooptical algorithms lie in the parameterization of the backscattering coefficient. This
is potentially an area where flow cytometry could be of great importance; modifications to
current flow cytometers that would permit the analysis of the size distribution of particles in
the sea, as well as the size-dependent backscattering coefficient, would permit a much more
rigorous parameterization which will be required to span the 9 orders of magnitude between
the satellite resolution and the size of particles ultimately responsible for the color of the sea.
Essential to this effort will be absolute calibration of the instruments, to permit both retrievals
in absolute units and for comparibility between instruments. Future satellite ocean color
missions will require cooperation on an international scale in the effort to develop algorithms
that adequately parameterize the small scale variability in order to be useful in reducing
current uncertainties in global biogeochemical cycles and physical climate. Analysis of the
optical and physiological properties of single cells will be a key part of this effort.
of these platforms, integrated with the large-scale view provided by satellite coverage, can
give great insight into some of the outstanding problems of the day in oceanography (e.g.
Brown et al., 1985).
Coupling of ship and buoy measurements with those from the satellite will provide the most
effective means to merge the scales of variability in the optical properties of the ocean. The
requirement, which at present remains a goal, is a parameterization of the small scales of
variability, preferably in terms of remote observations, in a form that will be useful in the
development of mesoscale and synoptic scale models of the oceanic optical fields.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND COUPLING TO FLOW CYTOMETRY
Several nations have plans for ocean color sensors in the near future. These planned future
satellite ocean color missions will have better sensor performance in terms of digitization
resolution and signal to noise ratios. This will permit improvements in the bio-optical
algorithms as well. Still, considerable uncertainty will remain in attempts to relate the
measured upwelled radiance to surface chlorophyll concentrations, as well as future estimates
of primary production and upper ocean heating rates. As seen above, the principle uncertainty
in the biooptical algorithms lie in the parameterization of the backscattering coefficient. This
is potentially an area where flow cytometry could be of great importance; modifications to
current flow cytometers that would permit the analysis of the size distribution of particles in
the sea, as well as the size-dependent backscattering coefficient, would permit a much more
rigorous parameterization which will be required to span the 9 orders of magnitude between
the satellite resolution and the size of particles ultimately responsible for the color of the sea.
Essential to this effort will be absolute calibration of the instruments, to permit both retrievals
in absolute units and for comparibility between instruments. Future satellite ocean color
missions will require cooperation on an international scale in the effort to develop algorithms
that adequately parameterize the small scale variability in order to be useful in reducing
current uncertainties in global biogeochemical cycles and physical climate. Analysis of the
optical and physiological properties of single cells will be a key part of this effort.