TY - JOUR
T1 - Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Determine the Fate of Photons Absorbed by Phytoplankton in the World's Oceans
AU - Gorbunov, Maxim Y.
AU - Falkowski, Paul G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by Annual Reviews. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/1/3
Y1 - 2022/1/3
N2 - Approximately 45% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon on Earth occurs in the oceans in phytoplankton, which account for less than 1% of the world's photosynthetic biomass. This amazing empirical observation implies a very high photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency, but how efficiently is the solar energy actually used? The photon energy budget of photosynthesis can be divided into three terms: the quantum yields of photochemistry, fluorescence, and heat. Measuring two of these three processes closes the energy budget. The development of ultrasensitive, seagoing chlorophyll variable fluorescence and picosecond fluorescence lifetime instruments has allowed independent closure on the first two terms. With this closure, we can understand how phytoplankton respond to nutrient supplies on timescales of hours to months and, over longer timescales, to changes in climate.
AB - Approximately 45% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon on Earth occurs in the oceans in phytoplankton, which account for less than 1% of the world's photosynthetic biomass. This amazing empirical observation implies a very high photosynthetic energy conversion efficiency, but how efficiently is the solar energy actually used? The photon energy budget of photosynthesis can be divided into three terms: the quantum yields of photochemistry, fluorescence, and heat. Measuring two of these three processes closes the energy budget. The development of ultrasensitive, seagoing chlorophyll variable fluorescence and picosecond fluorescence lifetime instruments has allowed independent closure on the first two terms. With this closure, we can understand how phytoplankton respond to nutrient supplies on timescales of hours to months and, over longer timescales, to changes in climate.
KW - Variable fluorescence
KW - fluorescence lifetime
KW - photosynthesis
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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-032621-122346
DO - https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-032621-122346
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34460315
SN - 1941-1405
VL - 14
SP - 213
EP - 238
JO - Annual Review of Marine Science
JF - Annual Review of Marine Science
ER -