RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEEP CHLOROPHYLL MAXIMUM AND SURFACE CHLOROPHYLLCONCENTRATION IN THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT SYSTEM

Empirical relationships were derived to estimate the depth (Z(m)) and concentration (Chl(m)) of the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) in the Ca lifornia Current System (CCS) between 28 degrees and 37 degrees N, usi ng CalCOFI data (1978-92). Because primary productivity may be modeled from remotely sensed ocean color data, it is important to be able to predict Z(m) and Chl(m). The DCM is a persistent feature of this syste m, with the average Z(m) generally increasing from north to south, and with distance from shore. Meanwhile, Chl(m) is higher inshore than of fshore. During ENSO events, Z(m) was deeper, and Chl(m), was lower tha n during normal years. The studied area was spatially divided into six subregions, and temporally into warm and cool seasons. Regression mod els were developed for each subregion and season to estimate Z(m) and Chl(m), as functions of surface chlorophyll.