Shape of Particle Backscattering In the North Pacific Ocean: The χ Factor

Authors

Xiaodong Zhang, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Lianbo Hu, University of North DakotaFollow
Deric Gray, Naval Research Laboratory
Yuanheng Xiong, University of North DakotaFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-10-2021

Department

Marine Science

School

Ocean Science and Engineering

Abstract

Volume scattering functions were measured using two instruments in waters near the Ocean Station Papa (50°N 145°W) and show consistency in estimating the χ factor attributable to particles (χ_p) While χ_p in the study area exhibits a limited variability, it could vary significantly when compared with data obtained in various parts of the global oceans. The global comparison also confirms that the minimal variation of χ_p is at scattering angles near 120°. With an uncertainty of <10%, χ_p can be assumed as spectrally independent. For backscatter sensors with wide field of view (FOV), the averaging of scattering within the FOV reduces the values of χ_p needed to compute the backscattering coefficient by up to 20% at angles <130°.

Publication Title

Applied Optics

Volume

60

Issue

5

First Page

1260

Last Page

1266

Recommended Citation

Zhang, X., Hu, L., Gray, D., Xiong, Y. (2021). Shape of Particle Backscattering In the North Pacific Ocean: The χ Factor. Applied Optics, 60(5), 1260-1266.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/18901