Estimating primary production from space: Thoughts on integrating field and satellite observations

Session: Great Lakes Primary Production: Methods, Results, and Management Implications (2)

Barry Lesht , GDIT/University of Illinois-Chicago , [email protected]
Katie Bockwoldt, ORISE - US EPA GLNPO, [email protected]
Richard Barbiero, CSRA, [email protected]
David Warner, USGS, [email protected]

Abstract

The idea of using satellite observations to estimate primary production (PP) in the Great Lakes is attractive because of its potential for providing PP values at high spatial and temporal resolutions.  Such high-resolution estimates would make it possible to explore regional and temporal variations in PP, something that cannot be easily accomplished with direct field measurements.  Satellite observations are limited, however, both by spatial and temporal sampling problems due to cloud cover and by the fact that the satellite data are only representative of the surface layer of the water column.  Therefore, studies that have used satellite observations to estimate PP depend on a variety of models to convert satellite data to measurements of PP.  In this paper we review several recent studies that have attempted to estimate PP in the Great Lakes from satellite observations.  In addition to highlighting their differences, we examine the degree to which they depend on and can be improved by new field observations.