Primary productivity in the Gulf of California, calculated from the relationship between superficial irradiance and chlorophyll in the euphotic zone

The vertical distribution of chlorophyll a during the spring of 1992 showed a subsurface maxima between 10 and 50 m of depth. Calculated values of integrated chlorophyll and incident irradiance were used to estimate primary productivity in the water column throughout the parameter Ψ*. The predictions obtained with different values of this parameter were compared with measurements of primary productivity made in situ with the ¹⁴C method and estimated with natural fluroescence. Productivity increased to the north, reaching maximum values at the large islands region. Ψ*_p = 0.039 ± 0.017 m² (gCla)^-1 is proposed for spring in the Gulf. -from Authors