Satellite observations of phytoplankton variability during an upwelling event

A sequence of satellite images of near-surface phytoplankton pigment concentrations and sea surface temperature together with concurrent surface measurements are used to study an upwelling event during the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment off northern California. These data sets show a high degree of temporal and spatial variability during this episode. Recurrent patterns in this variability give insight into the dynamics of coastal upwelling and its effects on biological distributions. Simple models of coastal upwelling cannot explain the observed phenomena in the CODE region. Satellite estimates of phytoplankton growth rates were about 0.8 day⁻¹ near persistent upwelling centers.