3c. Finally, the MODIS-A Local Area Coverage (LAC) data with 1 km nominal resolution are displayed in Fig. 3d. Note that the AMT data click here are not included in Fig. 3. The error statistics for data shown in Fig. 3 are summarized in Table 2. The categorization of data into 3 subsets (GAC, MLAC, LAC) does not show any evidence that either of the subsets has a much better statistics than the other data subsets. The R2 coefficient for all data subsets is about 0.8 if AMT data are not included. The lowest mean

absolute percentage error (MPE) of about 22% is for the MODIS-A LAC data set, while the lowest percentage of model bias (PBIAS) is for the SeaWiFS GAC data (about 1%). The results shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3 indicate that the performance of satellite POC algorithms is acceptable and comparable to the performance of the standard correlational satellite algorithms for chlorophyll (Chl) concentration (Bailey and Werdell, 2006). Similar conclusion has been reached by Duforet-Gaurier et al. (2010), but these authors used more limited data sets (27 data points). Allison selleck chemical et al. (2010) also concluded that the band ratio algorithm is currently the best option for estimating POC from ocean color remote sensing in the Southern Ocean, although they recommended a slightly modified version of the regional algorithm. In spite of

these results one has to recognize that the POC database (260 data points) is still modest when compared to global Chl matchup database (∼2500 data points in Siegel et al., 2013), and more efforts are needed to carry out global POC measurements to increase this database in the future. In addition, historically much less efforts have been devoted

to establishing robust POC in situ data selleck kinase inhibitor collection protocols, and there have been no round robin or intercomparison experiments between different laboratories. More research efforts should be focused on this issue. In recent years, satellite-derived Chl data improved substantially our understanding of phytoplankton biomass and primary production distributions within the world’s oceans. However, of particular interest to ocean biogeochemistry and its role in climate change is not Chl, but carbon. It is therefore important to continue the experimental and conceptual work to improve the reliability of in situ and satellite POC determinations. Another challenging task for the ocean color methods is development of the capability to partition the POC stock into the living and non-living components (Behrenfeld et al., 2005). In our final word we would like to stress that even if scientists continue to strive to decrease errors and improve satellite methods, the substantial scientific benefits from use of large scale ocean color satellite observations are unquestionable. None declared. The authors would like to thank all the people who were involved in the programs providing free access to the data sets used in this study. The historical field data were obtained from the U.S.