Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-703-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-703-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
26 May 2023
Research article |
| 26 May 2023
| 26 May 2023
Ocean color algorithm for the retrieval of the particle size distribution and carbon-based phytoplankton size classes using a two-component coated-sphere backscattering model
Tihomir S. Kostadinov
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Liberal Studies, California State University San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
Lisl Robertson Lain
Earth Observation, Smart Places, CSIR 7700, Cape
Town, South Africa
Christina Eunjin Kong
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UK
Xiaodong Zhang
Division of Marine Science, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529, USA
Stéphane Maritorena
Earth Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara,
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3060, USA
Stewart Bernard
SANSA, Enterprise Building, Mark Shuttleworth Street, Innovation Hub, Pretoria 0087, South Africa
Hubert Loisel
Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, IRD, UMR 8187 – LOG – Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
Daniel S. F. Jorge
Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, CNRS, Univ. Lille, IRD, UMR 8187 – LOG – Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, 62930 Wimereux, France
Ekaterina Kochetkova
Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Hayden Hall, University of Pennsylvania, 240 South 33rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Shovonlal Roy
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6DW, UK
Bror Jonsson
National Centre for Earth Observation, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UK
Victor Martinez-Vicente
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UK
Shubha Sathyendranath
National Centre for Earth Observation, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UK
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Cited
10 citations as recorded by crossref.
- First release of the Pelagic Size Structure database: global datasets of marine size spectra obtained from plankton imaging devices M. Dugenne et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2971-2024
- On the possibility of recognising different phytoplankton functional groups and size classes in optically complex waters T. Kutser et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2026.115609
- Variability in the relationship between light scattering and chlorophyll a concentration in oligotrophic tropical regions of the Western Pacific Ocean Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.504263
- Reduced and smaller phytoplankton during marine heatwaves in eastern boundary upwelling systems W. Zhan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01805-w
- A machine learning algorithm to retrieve the red peak of phytoplankton absorption spectra from ocean-colour remote sensing M. Ashphaq & S. Roy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101702
- Monitoring Water Diversity and Water Quality with Remote Sensing and Traits A. Lausch et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16132425
- Key link between iron and the size structure of three major mesoplanktonic groups in the upper ocean M. Dugenne et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75355-4
- Vertical Distribution of Different Types of Particulate Matter and Its Impact on Remote Sensing Estimation of Net Primary Productivity in the Oligotrophic Tropical Western Pacific Ocean Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18101116
- Inversion of Particle Size Distribution and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species From Their Backscattering Coefficients in Visible Light T. Hwang & J. Kiang https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3723849
- Simulated Inherent Optical Properties of Aquatic Particles using The Equivalent Algal Populations (EAP) model L. Lain et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02310-z
10 citations as recorded by crossref.
- First release of the Pelagic Size Structure database: global datasets of marine size spectra obtained from plankton imaging devices M. Dugenne et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2971-2024
- On the possibility of recognising different phytoplankton functional groups and size classes in optically complex waters T. Kutser et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2026.115609
- Variability in the relationship between light scattering and chlorophyll a concentration in oligotrophic tropical regions of the Western Pacific Ocean Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.504263
- Reduced and smaller phytoplankton during marine heatwaves in eastern boundary upwelling systems W. Zhan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01805-w
- A machine learning algorithm to retrieve the red peak of phytoplankton absorption spectra from ocean-colour remote sensing M. Ashphaq & S. Roy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101702
- Monitoring Water Diversity and Water Quality with Remote Sensing and Traits A. Lausch et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16132425
- Key link between iron and the size structure of three major mesoplanktonic groups in the upper ocean M. Dugenne et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75355-4
- Vertical Distribution of Different Types of Particulate Matter and Its Impact on Remote Sensing Estimation of Net Primary Productivity in the Oligotrophic Tropical Western Pacific Ocean Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w18101116
- Inversion of Particle Size Distribution and Abundance of Phytoplankton Species From Their Backscattering Coefficients in Visible Light T. Hwang & J. Kiang https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3723849
- Simulated Inherent Optical Properties of Aquatic Particles using The Equivalent Algal Populations (EAP) model L. Lain et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02310-z
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Short summary
We present a remote sensing algorithm to estimate the size distribution of particles suspended in natural near-surface ocean water using ocean color data. The algorithm can be used to estimate the abundance and carbon content of phytoplankton, photosynthesizing microorganisms that are at the basis of the marine food web and play an important role in Earth’s carbon cycle and climate. A merged, multi-sensor satellite data set and the model scientific code are provided.
We present a remote sensing algorithm to estimate the size distribution of particles suspended...
