Variability of the specific fluorescence of chlorophyll in the ocean. Part 1. Theory of classical in situ chlorophyll fluorometry

The range of variability of the fluorescence properties of marine phytoplankton in different trophic types of seas and at different depths in the sea is analysed theoretically. An attempt is also made to interpret artificially induced in situ fluorescence measured with submersible fluorometers. To do this, earlier optical models of light absorption by phytoplankton (see Woźniak et al. 2000, this volume) and actual empirical data were applied. A straightforward theoretical model of artificially photoinduced phytoplankton fluorescence accounting for the complex influence of different photophysiological characteristics of phytoplankton and the optical characteristics of the instrument has been worked out. A physical method of determining chlorophyll a concentrations in seawater from fluorescence measured in situ with contact fluorometers can be based on this model.