Institute of 
Marine & Coastal Sciences

Program Overview:
Introduction

Internal Methods
and Procedures:
Methods

Research Group:
Group Faculty/Staff Directory

Publications:
Publicized Papers, Manuscripts, Articles, etc. (also ones submitted or in press)

Related Sites:
Ocean Primary Productivity Study, IMCS, Rutgers Univ.
Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory, IMCS, Rutgers Univ.
The Dismukes Group, Princeton Univ.
U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS)
SeaWiFS Project
MODIS

Funded Projects:
LIFT/LIDAR - NASA
Biocomplexity (EREUPT) - NSF
Cell Death - NIH
GFP Project - ONR
Ocean Productivity - NASA
Iron Limitation - NSF
IR-FRR - NSF
Inorganic Carbon Cycling - US/Israel 
BSF
Light Intensity - DOE
Carbon Sequestration - LBNL/DOE
Benthic Targets (CoBOP) - ONR
SoFeX - NSF
Key Phytoplankton Groups (SMP) - NASA
Photoacclimation (US/Czech Republic) - NSF

Jump to:
Institute Information
Upcoming Seminars
Graduate Program in Oceanography

Special Programs of IMCS:
Project Tomorrow -K-12 Educational Programs
National Undersea Research Program
New Jersey's Shoreline Future - NJ Shore Protection Master Plan

in Tuckerton

Haskin Shellfish Research Lab

Find:
People
Places
Events

Search:
Rutgers INFOdex
Rutgers Web sites
The Web

Contact e-mail
romana@imcs.rutgers.edu

Last updated: 07-12-01

Back Home

Achieving the goals of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth regarding the role of the oceans in global biogeochemical cycles requires both fidelity in the estimation of net phytoplankton primary production and an established mechanism for generating comparable ocean productivity data products across successive generations of ocean color sensors.

Currently, only about half of the observed variability in depth-integrated primary production (IPP) can be accounted for by any productivity model and there is no organized procedure for establishing and updating a standard algorithm for generating productivity data products. This research project comprises both fundamental studies on phytoplankton photosynthesis and working group activities which specifically address these issues.

Basic research is being conducted to improve the characterization of the maximum rate of carbon fixation within the water column (Pbopt), the estimation of which is currently the greatest source of error in productivity model estimates of IPP. The physiological model for Pbopt is based on the assembly and analysis of a variable fluorescence database. Model parameterization emphasizes process oriented relationships and is based, to the greatest extent possible, on remotely sensed physical variables.

0_________50_________100_________150 Seasonal Global Production  (in g C/m2/season) for standard parameterization of theVPG Model 1.Jan-Feb, 2.Mar-Jun, 3.Jul-Sep, 4.Oct-Dec

Our primary goal is to provide databases, algorithm structure and code, and an investigator-independent framework that permits continuity, validation, and quality assurance for primary production calculations into the 21st century. For more information about this project, please visit our Ocean Primary Productivity Study, IMCS, Rutgers University web site.

BACK HOME

Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Program
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
71 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: (732) 932-6555
Fax: (732) 932-4083

© 2001 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
All rights reserved.