SATELLITE-DERIVED PRIMARY PRODUCTION ESTIMATES FROM THE GRAND-BANKS -COMPARISON TO OTHER OCEAN REGIMES

Annual primary production is computed for the Grand Banks of Newfoundl and using values of SDC (satellite detectable chlorophyll), IC (integr ated pigment within the euphotic layer predicted from SDC), PAR (photo synthetically available radiation) and psi (chlorophyll specific cros s section for photosynthesis). The mean value for IC is 19 mg m(-2) an d the mean SDC value is 0.41 mg m(-3). For the entire Banks, productio n is estimated to be 193 g C m(-2) y(-1), which compares -1) well with measured values of annual primary production on the Grand Banks (186 g C m(-2) y(-1)) using the shipboard data from the same period. We com pare our estimates of primary production using CZCS with determination s made by other investigators. Mean integral production estimates from Georges Bank, Grand Banks, and the Slope waters during April, May, Ju ne and July indicate that production values from Georges Bank are some what higher than those for the Grand Banks.