Seasonal and inter‐annual variability of particulate organic matter in the global ocean

The geographic distribution and seasonal to inter‐annual variability of the particulate backscattering coefficient, b bp , is described and compared with that of chlorophyll concentration, Chl . Both variables are obtained from satellite‐derived ocean color and inverse modeling. In general, b bp exhibits larger seasonal variations than Chl, and the b bp values are more evenly distributed in space, especially at low and middle latitudes. A phase shift between the annual cycles of b bp and Chl is evidenced, and is attributed to the presence of an important pool of non‐pigmented particles. Converting b bp to particulate organic carbon, POC , the annual mean surface POC pool between 60°S and 60°N is about 19 Tg C per meter.