Seasonal and inter-annual variability of particulate organic matter in the global ocean

[1] The geographic distribution and seasonal to interannual variability of the particulate backscattering coefficient, b(bp), is described and compared with that of chlorophyll concentration, Chl. Both variables are obtained from satellite-derived ocean color and inverse modeling. In general, b(bp) exhibits larger seasonal variations than Chl, and the b(bp) values are more evenly distributed in space, especially at low and middle latitudes. A phase shift between the annual cycles of b(bp) and Chl is evidenced, and is attributed to the presence of an important pool of nonpigmented particles. Converting b(bp) to particulate organic carbon, POC, the annual mean surface POC pool between 60degreesS and 60degreesN is about 19 Tg C per meter.