Bio-optical trends of waters around Valdés Biosphere Reserve: An assessment of the temporal variability based on 20 years of ocean color satellite data

Abstract

Satellite Image Time Series are becoming increasingly available and will continue to do so in the coming years thanks to the launch of space missions which aim to provide a high spatial resolution coverage of the Earth every few days. Bio-optical characteristics and their variation over time have been poorly studied in the Patagonian shelf. In this paper, we present the trends of time series analysis from satellite images that allows us to interpret the variations of bio-optical properties throughout time and their implications for planktonic organisms. The annual and seasonal trends of six variables were analyzed for two different gulfs, Nuevo and San José, in northern Patagonia from January 2003 – December 2021. We present the dynamic temporal changes of chlorophyll a (Chla-sat), phytoplankton absorption (Ab_phy), detritus absorption as well as environmental features changes for the sea surface temperature (SST), depth of the euphotic zone (Z_eu) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We found positive trends for SST, Ab_phy at 443 nm and PAR, but negative for Z_eu in Nuevo and San José gulfs. The positive trendlines for SST and negative for Z_eu suggest less availability of nutrients and light. These trends could change the bloom phenology and modify the phytoplankton community structure with implications for the entire food web and the ecosystem services in the VBR.