A test of a model for estimating production in the sea

Primary productivity was measured in the sea off the coasts of Florida and Georgia with the radiocarbon method at four stations during March, 1971. Integral photosynthesis per square meter surface was determined with a mathematical model from empirical data gathered from in situ and shipboard incubation experiments. The mathematical model provided shipboard incubators to be used to estimate primary production rates while overcoming the problem of relating light quality and quantity simulated by the incubators to that found in the euphotic zone. The use of shipboard incubation can allow for measurements to be made on a moving vessel, more stations visited per day and water samples incubated at a constant light intensity. Primary productivity at the four sampling stations ranged from 0.026 to 0.042 mg C/M² hr.