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 the14C 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)-1is proposed for spring in the Gulf. -from Authors