Comparison of primary production algorithms for Korean waters

Abstract

In the Korean waters, primary production varies spatially and temporally due to the quite different optical properties by three marginal seas such as the East Sea to the east, the Yellow Sea to the west and the East China Sea to the south. So, a local algorithm could be utilized to make a better estimation of primary production. This study compares five primary production algorithms for Korean waters. Five algorithms are in the form of vertical generalized production models: the original model and four variants with different parameterization of chlorophyll-a specific carbon fixation rate (PBopt) and light dependency function. The five algorithms were evaluated using 117 in-situ primary production datasets observed by 20 cruises from 1994 to 2011 in the Korean waters (East Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Yeosu Bay). The results show that the regionally-tuned variants give better results than the original formulation.th. So, a local algorithm could be utilized to make a better estimation of primary production. This study compares five primary production algorithms for Korean waters. Five algorithms are in the form of vertical generalized production models: the original model and four variants with different parameterization of chlorophyll-a specific carbon fixation rate (PBopt) and light dependency function. The five algorithms were evaluated using 117 in-situ primary production datasets observed by 20 cruises from 1994 to 2011 in the Korean waters (East Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Yeosu Bay). The results show that the regionally-tuned variants give better results than the original formulation.