AMT4 Cruise Report

The aims of the AMT4 cruise were similar to those of previous transects:

• to improve our understanding of the relationship between physical processes and biological production
• identify, define and quantify latitudinal changes in biogeochemical provinces
• determine phytoplankton characteristics and photosynthetic parameters
• identify nutrient regimes and their role in biogeochemical cycles
• characterise plankton community structure, including the accurate determination of carbon values
• relate the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in surface waters with the biological production
• acquire data for the calibration of remotely sensed observations
• secondary validation of remotely sensed products (eg. chlorophyll concentration)
• interpret basin-scale remote sensing observations
• develop models that enable the interpretation of satellite imagery in terms of total water column properties