Particulate and phytoplankton absorption during POLARSTERN cruises ANT-XXVI/3 and ANT-XXVIII/3

The euphotic depth (Zeu) is a key parameter in modelling primary production (PP) using satellite ocean colour. However, evaluations of satellite Zeu products are scarce. The objective of this paper is to investigate existing approaches and sensors to estimate Zeu from satellite and to evaluate how different Zeu products might affect the estimation of PP in the Southern Ocean (SO). Euphotic depth was derived from MODIS and SeaWiFS products of (i) surface chlorophyll-a (Zeu-Chla) and (ii) inherent optical properties (Zeu-IOP). They were compared with in situ measurements of Zeu from different regions of the SO. Both approaches and sensors are robust to retrieve Zeu, although the best results were obtained using the IOP approach and SeaWiFS data, with an average percentage of error (E) of 25.43% and mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.10 m (log scale). Nevertheless, differences in the spatial distribution of Zeu-Chla and Zeu-IOP for both sensors were found as large as 30% over specific regions. These differences were also observed in PP. On average, PP based on Zeu-Chla was 8% higher than PP based on Zeu-IOP, but it was up to 30% higher south of 60°S. Satellite phytoplankton absorption coefficients (aph) derived by the Quasi-Analytical Algorithm at different wavelengths were also validated and the results showed that MODIS aph are generally more robust than SeaWiFS. Thus, MODIS aph should be preferred in PP models based on aph in the SO. Further, we reinforce the importance of investigating the spatial differences between satellite products, which might not be detected by the validation with in situ measurements due to the insufficient amount and uneven distribution of the data.

Caracterización molecular de variedades de vid ( Vitis vinifera L.) de calidad enológica por marcadores microsatelitales

Siete variedades de vid empleadas en Argentina para la elaboración de vinos de alta gama fueron caracterizadas molecularmente a través del empleo de microsatélites. Seis de los 8 pares de cebadores usados amplificaron patrones de bandas reproducibles. El número de alelos detectados por locus varió entre 5 y 10, con un total de 42 alelos, registrándose desde 1 a 7 alelos únicos. El número de genotipos microsatélites encontrados para cada locus osciló entre 3 y 7, con un total de 28. Las variedades Tempranillo y Chenin mostraron 6 y 5 genotipos «únicos», respectivamente, con los 6 loci analizados. La heterocigosidad observada varió entre 42,9 y 100 %, mientras que la heterocigosidad esperada osciló entre 64,3 y 87,8 %. El locus más informativo fue VrZAG79 (con un contenido de información polimórfica de 84,9 % y un número de alelos efectivos de 8,17) mientras que el menos informativo fue VrZAG62. La probabilidad acumulada de obtener genotipos idénticos fue de 7,68 x 10-05 indicando que, mediante el uso combinado de estos 6 cebadores microsatélites se pueden discriminar todas las variedades ensayadas, con alto grado de certeza. El análisis de agrupamiento por el método UPGMA separó claramente las variedades francesas (Merlot, Pinot Noir y Cabernet Sauvignon) y Syrah de los cepajes Tempranillo y Bonarda. Esta técnica podría ofrecerse como servicio a viveristas y productores vitícolas interesados en garantizar la identidad genética de sus materiales comercializados.

Horizontal profiles of longwave and shortwave radiation components over sea ice near Barrow, Alaska during the 2011 melt

An integrated instrument package for measuring and understanding the surface radiation budget of sea ice is presented, along with results from its first deployment. The setup simultaneously measures broadband fluxes of upwelling and downwelling terrestrial and solar radiation (four components separately), spectral fluxes of incident and reflected solar radiation, and supporting data such as air temperature and humidity, surface temperature, and location (GPS), in addition to photographing the sky and observed surface during each measurement. The instruments are mounted on a small sled, allowing measurements of the radiation budget to be made at many locations in the study area to see the effect of small-scale surface processes on the large-scale radiation budget. Such observations have many applications, from calibration and validation of remote sensing products to improving our understanding of surface processes that affect atmosphere-snow-ice interactions and drive feedbacks, ultimately leading to the potential to improve climate modelling of ice-covered regions of the ocean. The photographs, spectral data, and other observations allow for improved analysis of the broadband data. An example of this is shown by using the observations made during a partly cloudy day, which show erratic variations due to passing clouds, and creating a careful estimate of what the radiation budget along the observed line would have been under uniform sky conditions, clear or overcast. Other data from the setup's first deployment, in June 2011 on fast ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, are also shown; these illustrate the rapid changes of the radiation budget during a cold period that led to refreezing and new snow well into the melt season.