1,721,311 research outputs found
Spectroscopy for Global Observation of Coastal and Inland Aquatic Habitats
No full textThere is a pressing need to globally inventory and assess coastal and inland aquatic habitats; extremely valuable and productive regions that are vulnerable to global anthropogenic pressures and climatic change. Basic information about sessile communities (wetlands, coral reefs, and sea grasses) includes mapping their extent and distribution, which can be gleaned from spectral surface reflectance imagery at high spatial resolution, but moderate temporal resolution. Moderate to high temporal resolution is also required for detailed observations of sessile community change (e.g., phenology, disturbance) and high temporal resolution is required for environmental changes in the surrounding water, phytoplankton concentration and composition, and concentrations of sediment or chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). Current and upcoming satellite missions and technology could meet spatial and spectral challenges. Multiple orbiting and airborne platforms, along with a network of in situ measurements, could provide a more complete picture of how these vital resources are changing. This paper provides an overview of these resources
Essential Ocean Variables for Global Sustained Observations of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Changes
Get PDFSustained observations of marine biodiversity and ecosystems focused on specific conservation and management problems are needed around the world to effectively mitigate or manage changes resulting from anthropogenic pressures. These observations, while complex and expensive, are required by the international scientific, governance and policy communities to provide baselines against which the effects of human pressures and climate change may be measured and reported, and resources allocated to implement solutions. To identify biological and ecological essential ocean variables (EOVs) for implementation within a global ocean observing system that is relevant for science, informs society, and technologically feasible, we used a driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) model. We (1) examined relevant international agreements to identify societal drivers and pressures on marine resources and ecosystems, (2) evaluated the temporal and spatial scales of variables measured by 100+ observing programs, and (3) analysed the impact and scalability of these variables and how they contribute to address societal and scientific issues. EOVs were related to the status of ecosystem components (phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass and diversity, and abundance and distribution of fish, marine turtles, birds and mammals), and to the extent and health of ecosystems (cover and composition of hard coral, seagrass, mangrove and macroalgal canopy). Benthic invertebrate abundance and distribution and microbe diversity and biomass were identified as emerging EOVs to be developed based on emerging requirements and new technologies. The temporal scale at which any shifts in biological systems will be detected will vary across the EOVs, the properties being monitored and the length of the existing time-series. Global implementation to deliver useful products will require collaboration of the scientific and policy sectors and a significant commitment to improve human and infrastructure capacity across the globe, including the development of new, more automated observing technologies, and encouraging the application of international standards and best practices
Map, Caribbean Sea and Surrounding Regions, Undated
No full textA map of the Caribbean Sea, highlighting key islands and coastal features of Venezuela and Colombia.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ogden2_notes/1027/thumbnail.jp
Diagram, Caribbean Coastal Seascape Showing the Relationships of Coral Reefs, Seagrasses, and Mangroves, Undated
No full textA diagram illustrating the relationships between different coastal ecosystems, including land, mangrove stands, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and offshore waters in the Caribbean.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ogden2_notes/1025/thumbnail.jp
Linking Capacity Development to GOOS Monitoring Networks to Achieve Sustained Ocean Observation
No full textDeveloping enduring capacity to monitor ocean life requires investing in people and their institutions to build infrastructure, ownership, and long-term support networks. International initiatives can enhance access to scientific data, tools and methodologies, and develop local expertise to use them, but without ongoing engagement may fail to have lasting benefit. Linking capacity development and technology transfer to sustained ocean monitoring is a win-win proposition. Trained local experts will benefit from joining global communities of experts who are building the comprehensive Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). This two-way exchange will benefit scientists and policy makers in developing and developed countries. The first step toward the GOOS is complete: identification of an initial set of biological Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that incorporate the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Essential Biological Variables (EBVs), and link to the physical and biogeochemical EOVs. EOVs provide a globally consistent approach to monitoring where the costs of monitoring oceans can be shared and where capacity and expertise can be transferred globally. Integrating monitoring with existing international reporting and policy development connects ocean observations with agreements underlying many countries\u27 commitments and obligations, including under SDG 14, thus catalyzing progress toward sustained use of the ocean. Combining scientific expertise with international capacity development initiatives can help meet the need of developing countries to engage in the agreed United Nations (UN) initiatives including new negotiations for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, and the needs of the global community to understand how the ocean is changing
A Compilation of Global Bio-Optical in Situ Data for Ocean-Colour Satellite Applications
Get PDFA compiled set of in situ data is important to evaluate the quality of ocean-colour satellite-data records. Here we describe the data compiled for the validation of the ocean-colour products from the ESA Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI). The data were acquired from several sources (MOBY, BOUSSOLE, AERONET-OC, SeaBASS, NOMAD, MERMAID, AMT, ICES, HOT, GePandCO), span between 1997 and 2012, and have a global distribution. Observations of the following variables were compiled: spectral remote-sensing reflectances, concentrations of chlorophyll α, spectral inherent optical properties and spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients. The data were from multi-project archives acquired via the open internet services or from individual projects, acquired directly from data providers. Methodologies were implemented for homogenisation, quality control and merging of all data. No changes were made to the original data, other than averaging of observations that were close in time and space, elimination of some points after quality control and conversion to a standard format. The final result is a merged table designed for validation of satellite-derived ocean-colour products and available in text format. Metadata of each in situ measurement (original source, cruise or experiment, principal investigator) were preserved throughout the work and made available in the final table. Using all the data in a validation exercise increases the number of matchups and enhances the representativeness of different marine regimes. By making available the metadata, it is also possible to analyse each set of data separately. The compiled data are available at doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.854832 (Valente et al., 2015)
Remote Sensing of Marine Pollution: a Challenge for the 1990S
No full textA summary of advances in satellite and aircraft remote sensing of marine pollution is presented. Remote sensing offers large benefits because of the high costs of monitoring using only traditional methods. Nevertheless, much work is needed to refine the technology to address even basic marine pollution problems. This paper briefly outlines studies of water quality assessment, including photyplankton standing stock, turbidity, suspended sediment load, dissolved organic material, temperature, salinity, wind stress, wave direction and wavelength, current speed and direction, and light attenuation coefficients. An increasing number of techniques useful to monitor marine pollution will be available in the 1990s. As part of this effort, it is important that a solid scientific base for remote sensing methods be established, and that multidisciplinary, international training programs be developed. It is capable human resources that we currently lack the most
River Discharge Variability Including Satellite-Observed Plume- Dispersal Patterns
No full textDischarge for both the Amazon (84 years) and Orinoco (23 years) showed small but significant positive linear trends. The Mississippi\u27s record (171 years) did not show a trend. Neither the Orinoco nor the Amazon discharge tracked annual mean rainfall well. There was a strong correlation between mean annual rainfall in southern Texas and discharge of the Rio Grande, and between rainfall along the Mississippi and its discharge, showing that discharge trends can be inferred by pooling a large number of meteorological stations. Hydrographs suggest a general increase in interannual variability as a result of human impact. The CZCS satellite images show that plume dispersal depends primarily on the seasonal variation of the wind and current system. -from Autho
The Maredat Global Database of High Performance Liquid Chromatography Marine Pigment Measurements
Get PDFA global pigment database consisting of 35 634 pigment suites measured by high performance liquid chromatography was assembled in support of the MARine Ecosytem DATa (MAREDAT) initiative. These data originate from 136 field surveys within the global ocean, were solicited from investigators and databases, compiled, and then quality controlled. Nearly one quarter of the data originates from the Laboratoire d\u27Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), with an additional 17% and 19% stemming from the US JGOFS and LTER programs, respectively. The MAREDAT pigment database provides high quality measurements of the major taxonomic pigments including chlorophylls a and b, 19\u27-butanoyloxyfucoxanthin, 19\u27-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, alloxanthin, divinyl chlorophyll a, fucoxanthin, lutein, peridinin, prasinoxanthin, violaxanthin and zeaxanthin, which may be used in varying combinations to estimate phytoplankton community composition. Quality control measures consisted of flagging samples that had a total chlorophyll a concentration of zero, had fewer than four reported accessory pigments, or exceeded two standard deviations of the log-linear regression of total chlorophyll a with total accessory pigment concentrations. We anticipate the MAREDAT pigment database to be of use in the marine ecology, remote sensing and ecological modeling communities, where it will support model validation and advance our global perspective on marine biodiversity. The original dataset together with quality control flags as well as the gridded MAREDAT pigment data may be downloaded from PANGAEA: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.793246
Graph, Discharge of Amazon Orinoco Rivers, 1969-1978
No full textA graph of mean standard deviation of the discharge of the Amazon (1969-1978) and Orinoco (1979-1983).https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ogden2_notes/1029/thumbnail.jp
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