Chlorophyll a Methods: Seawater samples were collected from CTD casts in pre-cleaned opaque brown polyethylene bottles and then analyzed from chlorophyll a (Chl-a) after extraction into 90% acetone:10% high purity water according to the method outlined in Welschmeyer, 1994. Briefly, after a seawater sample was collected from the CTD, a known volume of that seawater was filtered through a 25 mm diameter GF/F glass fiber filter under subdued lighting and at ~100 mm Hg pressure differential. Samples were filtered within 30 min of sample collection. The filter-funnel walls were then rinsed with previously filtered seawater. The filter was then folded with a flat-tipped forcep and placed in a borosilicate test tube that was tightly capped. The test tube was wrapped in Al foil and frozen. Once several samples were processed and stored this way, they were removed from the freezer and 4 mL of 90% (v/v) acetone (Burdick and Jackson, spectrophotometric grade) diluted with high-purity laboratory water (Milli-Q water from a Barnstead water system. The samples were vigorously shaken, wrapped in Al foil, and the Chl-a extracted overnight in the freezer (ca. 12 hr) in the dark. Chl-a in the acetone extracts was quantified by fluorescence under subdued lighting using a Turner Designs model AU-10 fluorometer. Samples were removed from the freezer and warmed to room temperature in the dark prior to analysis.
Chlorophyll a Concentration Calculation: To obtain chlorophyll a concentrations, blank-corrected fluorescence values obtained from the AU-10 were converted to ug Chl- a/L by using the standard curve equation obtained from calibration with an authentic Chl-a standard diluted in 90% acetone prior to the cruise. Secondary solid standards were analyzed daily during the cruise to ensure that the calibration of the AU-10 remained constant. Concentrations were corrected based on the filtered and extract volumes, as well as dilution factors, when needed.
Relevant Reference:
Welschmeyer, N.A. 1994. Fluorometric analysis of chlorophyll a in the presence of chlorophyll b and pheopigments. Limnol. Oceanogr. 39: 1985-1992. 10.4319/lo.1994.39.8.1985