Global data product of chlorophyll a concentration and phytoplankton community composition (microphytoplankton, nanophytoplankton and picophytoplankton) computed from in situ fluorescence profiles

In vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence, a proxy of chlorophyll a concentration, is one of the most frequently measured biogeochemical property in the ocean. Thousands of profiles are available from historical databases and the integration of fluorescence sensors to autonomous platforms led to a significant increase of chlorophyll fluorescence profiles acquisition. To date, benefits of such numerous data available have not yet been included in global analysis. A total of 268,184 raw chlorophyll fluorescence profiles were collected and subjected to a 10-steps quality control procedure (see supplementary literature publication).
The present data product was generated from the remaining 48,600 chlorophyll fluorescence profiles. These were inter-calibrated, converted to total chlorophyll a concentration and phytoplankton community composition (i.e. microphytoplankton, nanophytoplankton and picophytoplankton) using the FLAVOR method (see further details). The data span a time period of 1958-2015, with observations from all oceanic basins and all seasons, and with depths ranging from the surface to a median sampling maximum depth of around 700m.
The present data product was obtained by modelling phytoplankton biomass and composition from in situ fluorescence profiles and therefore, individual profiles should NOT BE USED as discrete observations. The correct use of the present data product is to investigate regional or temporal trends, for example to improve the open ocean climatologies of chlorophyll a concentration.
This data product is intended as a living data set, with the expectation to retrieve and model additional in situ chlorophyll fluorescence profiles, especially from autonomous acquisition platforms.