On the use of the solar-stimulated fluorescence signal from chlorophyll a for airborne and satellite mapping of phytoplankton

Abstract

Since our early measurements of the solar-stimulated fluorescence signal from chlorophyll a in airborne, water color surveys along the British Columbia coast, we have applied the technique in a number of areas, including the waters of the Canadian arctic and Europe, and further evaluated its potential and problems. The results show that mapping using the fluorescence signal has definite operational advantages, and can enhance the accuracy of airborne chlorophyll surveys made using the more conventional broad-band green/blue signals. Also, measurement of the fluorescence may allow better estimation of primary productivity rates. To produce similar data over large areas, observations of chlorophyll fluorescence from high altitudes or from space, are required. This sets stringent demands on design of a suitable sensor. This paper will discuss the implications of the various airborne and in-water results, and show examples of the data recently acquired from the “Fluorescence Line Imager”, an imaging spectrometer designed specifically for this type of chlorophyll mapping from high altitudes.