scholarly journals Significant contribution of large particles to optical backscattering in the open ocean

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 947-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dall'Olmo ◽  
T. K. Westberry ◽  
M. J. Behrenfeld ◽  
E. Boss ◽  
W. H. Slade
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Large Particles ◽  
Similar Information ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Beam Attenuation Coefficient

Abstract. The light scattering properties of oceanic particles have been suggested as an alternative index of phytoplankton biomass than chlorophyll-a concentration (chl-a), with the benefit of being less sensitive to physiological forcings (e.g., light and nutrients) that alter the intracellular pigment concentrations. The drawback of particulate scattering is that it is not unique to phytoplankton. Nevertheless, field studies have demonstrated that, to first order, the particulate beam-attenuation coefficient (cp) can track phytoplankton biomass. The relationship between cp and the particulate backscattering coefficient (bbp), a property retrievable from space, has not been fully evaluated, largely due to a lack of open-ocean field observations. Here, we present extensive data on inherent optical properties from the Equatorial Pacific surface waters and demonstrate a remarkable coherence in bbp and cp. Coincident measurements of particle size distributions (PSDs) and optical properties of size-fractionated samples indicate that this covariance is due to both the conserved nature of the PSD and a greater contribution of phytoplankton-sized particles to bbp than theoretically predicted. These findings suggest that satellite-derived bbpcould provide similar information on phytoplankton biomass in the open ocean as cp.

scholarly journals Direct contribution of phytoplankton-sized particles to optical backscattering in the open ocean

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 291-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dall'Olmo ◽  
T. K. Westberry ◽  
M. J. Behrenfeld ◽  
E. Boss ◽  
W. H. Slade
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Similar Information ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Beam Attenuation Coefficient

Abstract. Light scattering properties of oceanic particles have been suggested as an alternative index of phytoplankton biomass than chlorophyll-a concentration (chl-a), with the benefit of being less sensitive to physiological forcings (e.g., light and nutrients) that alter the intracellular pigment concentrations. The drawback of particulate scattering is that it is not unique to phytoplankton. Nevertheless, field studies have demonstrated that, to first order, the particulate beam-attenuation coefficient (cp) can track phytoplankton abundance. The relationship between cp and the particulate backscattering coefficient (bbp), a property retrievable from space, has not been fully evaluated, largely due to a lack of open-ocean field observations. Here, we present extensive data on inherent optical properties from the Equatorial Pacific surface waters and demonstrate a remarkable coherence in bbp and cp. Coincident measurements of particle size distributions (PSDs) and optical properties of size-fractionated samples indicate that this covariance is due to both the conserved nature of the PSD and a greater contribution of phytoplankton-sized particles to bbp than theoretically predicted. These findings suggest that satellite-derived bbp could provide similar information on phytoplankton biomass in the open ocean as cp.

scholarly journals Using a two-layered sphere model to investigate the impact of gas vacuoles on the inherent optical properties of <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i>

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 8139-8157 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Matthews ◽  
S. Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Microcystis Aeruginosa ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Shell Layer ◽  
Sphere Model ◽  
Homogeneous Population ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Gas Vacuoles ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. A two-layered sphere model is used to investigate the impact of gas vacuoles on the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of the cyanophyte Microcystis aeruginosa. Enclosing a vacuole-like particle within a chromatoplasm shell layer significantly altered spectral scattering and increased backscattering. The two-layered sphere model reproduced features in the spectral attenuation and volume scattering function (VSF) that have previously been attributed to gas vacuoles. This suggests the model is good at least as a first approximation for investigating how gas vacuoles alter the IOPs. Measured Rrs was used to provide a range of values for the central value of the real refractive index, 1 + ε, for the shell layer using measured IOPs and a radiative transfer model. Sufficient optical closure was obtained for 1 + ε between 1.1 and 1.14, which had corresponding Chl a-specific phytoplankton backscattering, bbφ*, between 3.9 and 7.2 × 10−3 m2 mg−1 at 510 nm. The bbφ* values are in close agreement with the literature and in situ particulate backscattering measurements. Rrs simulated for a population of vacuolate cells was greatly enlarged relative to a homogeneous population. A sensitivity analysis of empirical algorithms for estimating Chl a in eutrophic/hypertrophic waters suggests these are robust under variable constituent concentrations and likely to be species-sensitive. The study confirms that gas vacuoles cause significant increase in backscattering and are responsible for the high Rrs values observed in buoyant cyanobacterial blooms. Gas vacuoles are therefore one of the most important bio-optical substructures influencing the IOPs in phytoplankton.

scholarly journals Effects of nitrate and phosphate supply on chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Eastern Tropical North Atlantic: a mesocosm study

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 7209-7255
Author(s):  
A. N. Loginova ◽  
C. Borchard ◽  
J. Meyer ◽  
H. Hauss ◽  
R. Kiko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Optical Properties ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Phytoplankton Biomass ◽  
Open Ocean ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Tropical North Atlantic

Abstract. The Eastern Tropical North Atlantic (ETNA) is an open ocean region with little input of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM), suggesting that pelagic production has to be the main source of DOM. Inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP) concentrations affect pelagic production, leading to DOM modifications. The quantitative and qualitative changes in DOM are often estimated by its optical properties. Colored DOM (CDOM) is often used to estimate dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations by applied techniques, e.g. through remote sensing, whereas DOM properties, such as molecular weight, can be estimated from the slopes of the CDOM absorption spectra (S). Fluorescence properties of CDOM (FDOM) allow discriminating between different structural CDOM properties. The investigation of distribution and cycling of CDOM and FDOM was recognized to be important for understanding of physical and biogeochemical processes, influencing DOM. However, little information is available about effects of nutrient variability on CDOM and FDOM dynamics. Here we present results from two mesocosm experiments conducted with a natural plankton community of the ETNA, where effects of DIP ("Varied P") and DIN ("Varied N") supply on optical properties of DOM were studied. CDOM accumulated proportionally to phytoplankton biomass during the experiments. S decreased over time indicating accumulation of high molecular weight DOM. In Varied N, an additional CDOM portion, as a result of bacterial DOM reworking, was determined. It increased the CDOM fraction in DOC proportionally to the supplied DIN. The humic-like FDOM component (Comp.1) was derived by bacteria proportionally to DIN supply. The bound-to-protein amino acid-like FDOM component (Comp.2) was released irrespectively to phytoplankton biomass, but depending on DIP and DIN concentrations, as a part of an overflow mechanism. Under high DIN supply, Comp.2 was removed by bacterial reworking processes, leading to an accumulation of humic-like Comp.1. No influence of nutrient availability on amino acid-like FDOM component in peptide form (Comp.3) was observed. Comp.3 potentially acted as an intermediate product during formation or degradation Comp.2. Our findings suggest that changes in nutrient concentrations may lead to substantial responses in the quantity and "quality" of optically active DOM and, therefore, might bias results of the applied techniques for an estimation of DOC concentrations in open ocean regions.

Optical Effects of Large Particles

Ocean Optics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall L. Carder ◽  
David K. Costello
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Light Field ◽  
Ocean Optics ◽  
Backscattering Coefficient ◽  
Model Inversion ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
And Inversion ◽  
The Relationship

Two important problems facing the ocean optics research community in the coming decade concern optical model closure and inversion (see Chapter 3). We obtain model closure if we can describe the measured light environment by combining elementary measurements of the optical properties of the medium with radiative transfer theory. If we can accurately deduce the concentration of various constituents from a combination of measures of the submarine light field and inverse model calculations, we term this process model inversion. The most elementary measurements of the optical properties of the sea are those that are independent of the geometry of the light field, the inherent optical properties (Preisendorfer, 1961). Optical properties that are dependent on the geometry of the light field are termed apparent optical properties (AOP). Models of the submarine light field typically relate apparent optical properties to inherent optical properties (see Chapter 2). Examples include the relationship between the AOP irradiance reflectance R and a combination of inherent optical properties (backscattering coefficient bb and absorption coefficient a), and the relationship between the AOP downwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient kd and a combination of the absorption coefficient, backscattering coefficient, and downwelling average cosine μd (e.g., Gordon et al., 1975; Morel and Prieur, 1977; Smith and Baker, 1981; Morel, 1988; Kirk, 1984a). Under some circumstances these relationships work well enough that the absorption coefficient can be derived indirectly. This is important since measurement of the absorption coefficient by direct means has been difficult. Derived values for the absorption coefficient by model inversion methods are not easily verified by independent measurements, however, because of the difficulty of measuring the absorption coefficient. Model closure and model inversion both become more tenuous when the following phenomena are present: 1. Transpectral or inelastic scattering such as fluorescence (e.g., Gordon, 1979; Carder and Steward, 1985; Mitchell and Kiefer, 1988a; Spitzer and Dirks, 1985; Hawes and Carder, 1990) or water Raman scattering (Marshall and Smith, 1990; Stavn, 1990; Stavn and Weidemann, 1988a,b; Peacock et al, 1990; Chapter 12 this volume). 2. Particles that are large relative to the measurement volume for inherent optical property meters such as beam transmissometers, light-scattering photometers, fluorometers, and absorption meters.

Optical Closure: from Theory to Measurement

Ocean Optics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ronald V. Zaneveld
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Light Field ◽  
Vertical Structure ◽  
Spectral Radiance ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Dissolved Matter ◽  
Beam Attenuation Coefficient

The intensity and spectrum of the light in the ocean have a major influence on the biological processes. These processes in turn determine the concentrations of much of the suspended and dissolved matter in the ocean, which affect the way in which the light is scattered and absorbed. These relationships can perhaps be most easily illustrated schematically as in Fig. 3-1. At the upper boundary we have the sun and sky radiances and the surface transmission conditions that combine to provide the energy entering through the surface. The ocean itself contains the vertical structure of those optical properties that do not depend on the structure of the light field, but depend only on the properties of the suspended and dissolved materials: the absorption coefficient a(λ,z), the beam attenuation coefficient c(λ,z), and the volume scattering function β(θ,λ,z). These are known as inherent optical properties, because they do not depend on the source radiance field (Preisendorfer, 1976). They are a function only of the suspended and dissolved materials in the water, and of the water itself. How does the vertical structure of the inherent optical properties affect the vertical structure of the radiance field in the ocean itself? This is the problem of radiative transfer in which we try to predict the intensity, direction, and spectrum of the light (spectral radiance) in the ocean, based on a set of given inherent optical properties. Those properties of the light field in the ocean that depend on the radiance are known as the apparent optical properties. Radiance field integrals, such as the vector irradiance, E(λ,z), the scalar irradiance E0(λ,z), and their attenuation coefficients are also apparent optical properties.

scholarly journals Using a two-layered sphere model to investigate the impact of gas vacuoles on the inherent optical properties of <i>M. aeruginosa</i>

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 10531-10579 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Matthews ◽  
S. Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Shell Layer ◽  
Sphere Model ◽  
Homogeneous Population ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Gas Vacuoles ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. A two-layered sphere model is used to investigate the impact of gas vacuoles on the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of the cyanophyte Microcystis aeruginosa. Enclosing a vacuole–like particle within a chromatoplasm shell layer significantly altered spectral scattering and increased backscattering. The two-layered sphere model reproduced features in the spectral attenuation and volume scattering function (VSF) that have previously been attributed to gas vacuoles. This suggests the model is good at least as a first approximation for investigating how gas vacuoles alter the IOPs. The central value of the real refractive index, 1+ ε, for the shell layer was determined using a radiative transfer model and measured remote sensing reflectance, Rrs, and IOP data. For a cell with 50% vacuole volume, the mean 1+ ε value for the shell layer was 1.12. The corresponding chl a specific phytoplankton backscattering coefficient, bbφ&amp;ast;, ranged between 3.9 × 10−3 and 7.2 × 10−3 m2 mg−1 at 510 nm. This agrees closely with in situ particulate backscattering measurements and values reported elsewhere. Rrs simulated for a population of vacuolate cells was greatly enlarged relative to a homogeneous population. Empirical algorithms based on Rrs were derived for estimating chl a in eutrophic/hypertrophic waters dominated by M. aeruginosa. The study confirms that gas vacuoles cause significant increase in backscattering and are responsible for the high Rrs values observed in buoyant cyanobacterial blooms. Gas vacuoles are therefore one of the most important bio-optical substructures influencing the IOPs in phytoplankton.

Optical properties, of waters in the Murray-Darling Basin, South-eastern Australia

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Relative Role ◽  
Yellow Colour ◽  
Scattering Coefficients ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Relationship

Apparent and inherent optical properties were determined for a range of water types in the Murray- Darling basin by using a combination of field and laboratory techniques. The absorption coefficient was calculated directly from in situ irradiance measurements of photosynthetically active radiation, whereas the scattering coefficient was determined from the irradiance measurements in conjunction with published nomograms relating the apparent and inherent optical properties. The validity of the nomograms for use in these waters was confirmed by comparing values of the average cosine calculated directly from in situ measurements with those estimated from the nomograms. These were closely correlated except for sites with chlorophyll concentrations greater than 200 mg m-3. The scattering coefficients estimated from the nomograms were approximately numerically equal to the turbidity in nephelometric turbidity units, but the variability of the relationship made it unsuitable for checking the validity of the nomograms. The relative role of dissolved and particulate components in the absorption and scattering of irradiance was examined by using spectrophotometry and linear regression of inherent optical properties on concentrations of the components. Estimates of specific absorption and scattering coefficients for algae, non-chlorophyllous suspended particles, and dissolved yellow colour were comparable to similar coefficients reported in the literature. The relative importance of these components to absorption and scattering varied considerably between sites and demonstrated the need for information on inherent optical properties in understanding the factors causing changes in optical water quality.

scholarly journals Optical Properties and Aging of Light Absorbing Secondary Organic Aerosol

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiumeng Liu ◽  
Peng Lin ◽  
Alexander Laskin ◽  
Julia Laskin ◽  
Shawn M. Kathmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Light Absorption ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Ultraviolet Region ◽  
Radiation Balance ◽  
Nitro Aromatics ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The light-absorbing organic aerosol (OA), commonly referred to as "brown carbon (BrC)", has attracted considerable attention in recent years because of its potential to affect atmospheric radiation balance, especially in the ultraviolet region and thus impact photochemical processes. A growing amount of data has indicated that BrC is prevalent in the atmosphere, which has motivated numerous laboratory and field studies; however, our understanding of the relationship between the chemical composition and optical properties of BrC remains limited. We conducted chamber experiments to investigate the effect of various VOC precursors, NOx concentrations, photolysis time and relative humidity (RH) on the light absorption of selected secondary organic aerosols (SOA). Light absorption of chamber generated SOA samples, especially aromatic SOA, was found to increase with NOx concentration, at moderate RH, and for the shortest photolysis aging times. The highest mass absorption coefficients (MAC) value is observed from toluene SOA products formed under high NOx conditions at moderate RH, in which nitro-aromatics were previously identified as the major light absorbing compounds. BrC light absorption is observed to decrease with photolysis time, correlated with a decline of the organonitrate fraction of SOA. SOA formed from mixtures of aromatics and isoprene absorb less visible and UV light than SOA formed from aromatic precursors alone on a mass basis. However, the mixed-SOA absorption was underestimated when optical properties were predicted using a two-product SOA formation model, as done in many current climate models. Further investigation, including analysis on detailed mechanisms, are required to explain the discrepancy.

scholarly journals A Semi-Empirical Chlorophyll-a Retrieval Algorithm Considering the Effects of Sun Glint, Bottom Reflectance, and Non-Algal Particles in the Optically Shallow Water Zones of Sanya Bay Using SPOT6 Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 2765
Author(s):  
Yan Yu ◽  
Shengbo Chen ◽  
Wenhan Qin ◽  
Tianqi Lu ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Absorption Coefficient ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Green Band ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Inherent Optical Properties ◽  
Sanya Bay ◽  
Semi Empirical ◽  
Empirical Algorithms

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration retrieval is essential for water quality monitoring, aquaculture, and guiding coastline infrastructure construction. Compared with common ocean color satellites, land observation satellites have the advantage of a higher resolution and more data sources for retrieving the concentration of Chl-a from optically shallow waters. However, the sun glint (Rsg), bottom reflectance (Rb), and non-algal particle (NAP) derived from terrigenous matter affect the accuracy of Chl-a concentration retrieval using land observation satellite image data. In this paper, we propose a semi-empirical algorithm based on the remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) of SPOT6 to retrieve the Chl-a concentration in Sanya Bay (SYB), considering the effect of Rsg, Rb, and NAP. In this semi-empirical algorithm, the Cox–Munk anisotropic model and radiative transfer model (RTM) were used to reduce the effects of Rsg and Rb on Rrs, and the Chl-a concentration was retrieved by the Chl-a absorption coefficient at 490 nm (aphy(490)) to remove the effect of NAP. The semi-empirical algorithm was in the form of Chl-a = 43.3[aphy(490)]1.454, where aphy (490) was calculated by the total absorption coefficient and the absorption coefficients of each component by empirical algorithms. The results of the Chl-a concentration retrieval show the following: (1) SPOT6 data are available for Chl-a retrieval using this semi-empirical algorithm in oligotrophic or mesotrophic coastal waters, and the accuracy of the algorithm can be improved by removing the effects of Rsg, Rb, and NAP (R2 from 0.71 to 0.93 and root mean square error (RMSE) from 0.23 to 0.11 ug/L); (2) empirical algorithms based on the blue-green band are suitable for oligotrophic or mesotrophic coastal waters, and the algorithm based on the blue-green band difference Chl-a index (DCI) has stronger anti-interference in terms of the effects of sun glint and bottom reflectance than the algorithm based on the blue-green ratio (BGr); (3) in the case of ignoring Rsg unrelated to inherent optical properties (IOPs), NAP is the biggest interference factor when >9.5 mg/L and the effect of bottom reflectance should be considered when the water depth (H) <5 m in SYB; and (4) the inherent optical properties of the waters in SYB are dominated by NAP (Chl-a = 0.2–2.6 ug/L and NAP = 2.2–30.1 mg/L), and the nutrients are concentrated by enclosed terrain and southeast current. This semi-empirical algorithm for Chl-a concentration retrieval has the potential to monitor Chl-a in oligotrophic and mesotrophic coastal waters using other land observation satellites (e.g., Landsat8 OLI, ASTER, and GaoFen2).

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