REAL-TIME DETECTION OF FRONTS UTILISING IN VIVO PHYTOPLANKTON FLUORESCENCE PROPERTIES

Abstract

Historical data suggested that the monitoring of biological parameters might provide a real-time method of predicting the position of ocean fronts (critical to ASV operations). A series of oceanographic surveys was therefore undertaken to investigate the distribution of various parameters (including chlorophyll a (Chl a), nutrients, ATP, and pH) across such fronts. These surveys demonstrated that the continuous monitoring of chlorophyll fluorescence (Chl F) provided the most efficient real-time method for detecting the surface positions of deep-sea, shelf-sea, and shelf-edge fronts (often, in advance of temperature). The rate of change in a parameter (not absolute levels) proved to be critical in detecting a frontal system.