EARSeL eProceedings Vol. 3, No. 3, 306-315, 2004

Abstract
In this paper a new approach for phytoplankton diagnostics based on the non-linear fluorimetry method (saturation fluorimetry method) is proposed. This approach can be realised both in a sample probe mode and in a remote sensing mode. The procedure for the determination of the non-saturated fluorescence parameter which is proportional to concentration of chlorophyll a molecules and the photophysical parameter A has been elaborated. Parameter A includes the excitation cross‑section of chlorophyll a molecules, the lifetime of the excited chlorophyll a molecules taking into account all processes of a deactivation of excitation except the singlet-singlet annihilation, and the maximum rate of the singlet-singlet annihilation.

Laboratory experiments with the axenic culture of eurihaline Thalassiosira weissflogii have shown that A is strongly dependent on the functional state of phytoplankton. The state was changed by treatment with herbicide DCMU and by actinic light

ISSN 1729-3782