Continuous Measurement of in vivo Chlorophyll of a Dinoflagellate Bloom in Chesapeake Bay

Abstract

The fluorometric method was used to obtain a continuousin vivo record of chlorophylla distribution in surface waters of the mid-Chesapeake Bay. Measurements were made just previous to and during a fall dinoflagellate bloom. Chlorophylla values computed from calibration curves ranged from 10 to 56 mg m−3. Off-scale values as high as 167 mg m−3 were noted during the dinoflagellate bloom. It should be possible, with care, to monitor chlorophyll in many estuaries that have very high standing crops of phytoplankton.