Satellite estimates of trends in magnitude and timing of phytoplankton pigments, primary production and export production in the Arctic Ocean

Abstract:

Decrease in the summer extent of Arctic sea-ice is well known and there are indications that the magnitude of net primary production (NPP) is increasing in the Arctic Ocean. However, it is not clear if this increase is only due to the increased ice-free area, and what ecological consequences it is having on the net community production (NCP). The timing of the spring or summer phytoplankton bloom is becoming earlier in certain areas of the Arctic Ocean and the fall bloom has appeared in other areas. Satellite-based measurements of ocean color have provided most of the evidence for large-scale changes in the ocean but are limited by cloud cover, solar zenith angle and proximity to ice. We evaluate the evidence for various trends in the magnitude and annual cycles of NPP and NCP in Arctic Ocean and the effects that missing data and algorithm uncertainties can have on the apparent trends.