Ocean Biology Studied from Space

Abstract Visible spectral radiometric measurements from space, commonly referred to as ocean-colour measurements, provide a rich stream of information on ocean biota as well as on biological and ecosystem processes. The strength of the ocean-colour technology for observing marine life lies in its global reach, combined with its ability to sample the field at a variety of spatial and temporal scales that match the scales of the processes themselves. Another advantage lies in the growing length of the time series of ocean-colour-derived products, enabiling investigations into any long-term changes, if present. This paper presents an overview of the principles and applications of ocean-colour data. The concentration of chlorophyll-a, the major pigment present in phytoplankton–single-celled, free-floating plants that are present in the sunlit layers of the ocean–was the first, and remains the most common, biological variable derived from ocean-colour data. Over the years, the list of ocean-colour products have grown to encompass many measures of the marine ecosystem and its functions, including primary production, phenology and ecosystem structure. Applications that exploit the data are many and varied, and include ecosystem-based fisheries management, biogeochemical cycles in the ocean, ecosystem health and climate change. An integrated approach, incorporating other modes of ocean observations and models with satellite observations, is needed to investigate the mysteries of the marine ecosystem.