Pigment packaging and chlorophyll a-specific absorption in high-light oceanic waters: a method, an algorithm, and validation

W.P. Bissett; Jennifer S. Patch; Kendall L. Carder; Zhongping Lee

doi:10.1117/12.266468

6 February 1997 Pigment packaging and chlorophyll a-specific absorption in high-light oceanic waters: a method, an algorithm, and validation

W.P. Bissett, Jennifer S. Patch, Kendall L. Carder, Zhongping Lee

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2963, Ocean Optics XIII; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266468
Event: Ocean Optics XIII, 1996, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract

The absorption of light by phytoplankton at a single wavelength, a_ph((lambda) ), is reduced with the increased packaging of the light absorption material. A common method of estimating the package effect is to divide a_ph((lambda) ) by the light absorption of the intracellular material after it has been extracted in an organic solvent. The absorption of the extract is often assumed to be representative of the true absorption of the cellular material in a dissolved state, a_sol((lambda) ). However, a_sol((lambda) ) is affected by the process of removing the light absorptive material from the organic matrix of the cell, the destruction of the pigment-protein complexes, and the solvent interference with the excited states of the chromophore. What is actually being measured by these extraction methods to determine a_sol((lambda) ), is a_om((lambda) ), i.e., the absorption of light by the pigment material in the organic medium of the experiment. A solvation factor, S, that is the ratio of the true a_sol((lambda) ) to the measured a_om((lambda) ) is needed before the package effect can be determined. We have developed an internally consistent measure of a_ph((lambda) ), a_om(lambda), chlorophyll a concentration, and pheopigment concentration to determine the ratio a_sol((lambda) ):a_om((lambda) ) and the package effect, Q_a equals aph/at 675 nm. These parameters are used to determine a functional relationship between chlorophyll a concentrations and light absorption for high- light adapted, natural phytoplankton populations in optically clear waters. The packaging effect in these waters is negligible at the red peak of the spectrum. Exclusion of the weight specific absorption of pheopigments and the assumption of a zero a_ph(675) at a zero pigment concentration produces a misleading chlorophyll a-specific absorption and a false determination of pigment packaging. An algorithm is developed and validated for predicting chlorophyll a concentration from a_ph(675) in high-light, optically clear waters.

Citation Download Citation

W.P. Bissett, Jennifer S. Patch, Kendall L. Carder, and Zhongping Lee "Pigment packaging and chlorophyll a-specific absorption in high-light oceanic waters: a method, an algorithm, and validation", Proc. SPIE 2963, Ocean Optics XIII, (6 February 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266468

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available