Experimental Estimates of Optical Backscattering Associated With Submicron Particles In Clear Oceanic Waters
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-28-2020
Department
Marine Science
School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Abstract
The volume scattering functions for bulk and two submicron size fractions (passing through 0.7 μm GF/F and 0.2 μm membrane filters) were measured in the North Pacific Ocean using a LISST‐VSF to assess the contributions by submicron particles to the overall particle scattering. The contribution by submicron particles increased generally with scattering angle and peaked around 110°. The total backscattering by both submicron fractions did not vary, but that by larger particles increased, with the trophic level. Consequently, the fractional backscattering contribution by submicron particles decreased from approximately 50% to 30% as the chlorophyll‐a concentration increased from <0.1 to 0.3 mg m−3. Despite the experiment covering a limited range of trophic levels, our results confirm that backscattering by submicron particles in clear ocean waters is significant and seems to form a background independent of the backscattering by larger particles.
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
47
Issue
4
Recommended Citation
Zhang, X.,
Hu, L.,
Xiong, Y.,
Huot, Y.,
Gray, D.
(2020). Experimental Estimates of Optical Backscattering Associated With Submicron Particles In Clear Oceanic Waters. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(4).
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/17487