An optimised method for correcting quenched fluorescence yield

Abstract

Abstract. Under high light intensity, phytoplankton protect their photosystems from bleaching through non-photochemical quenching processes. The consequence of this is suppression of fluorescence emission, which must be corrected when measuring in situ yield with fluorometers. Previously, this has been done using the limit of the mixed layer, assuming that phytoplankton are uniformly mixed from the surface to this depth. However, the assumption of homogeneity is not robust in oceanic regimes that support deep chlorophyll maxima. To account for these features, we correct from the limit of the euphotic zone, defined as the depth at which light is at ~1% of the surface value. This method was applied to fluorescence data collected by eleven animal-borne fluorometers deployed in the Southern Ocean over four austral summers. Six tags returned data showing evidence of deep chlorophyll features. Using the depth of the euphotic layer, quenching was corrected without masking subsurface fluorescence signals.