Remotely sensed giant kelp canopy biomass patterns over its dominant range in the NE Pacific

Recent studies led by the Santa Barbara Coastal LTER have demonstrated the ability to examine the dynamics of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) biomass over large temporal and spatial scales using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. This technique has revealed that disturbance, nutrient availability, and oceanographic cycles drive changes in kelp biomass, recruitment, and mortality.  We have also found that the relative importance of these environmental forcings vary regionally in the Santa Barbara Channel and CA central coast. Here we present the recent expansion of this process to cover the dominant range of giant kelp, Santa Cruz, CA to Punta San Hipolito, Baja California Sur, Mexico, throughout the ~28 year life of the satellite (1984 – 2011). This spatial expansion, coupled with the multi-decadal timespan, allows the SBC LTER to examine changes in range limits, recovery from large-scale oceanographic disturbances, and other long-term trends. We are currently continuing the timeseries using the Landsat 7 ETM+ sensor and in the future will transition to the Landsat Data Continuity Mission once it is operational in 2013.