Light Absorption, Attenuation, and Fluorescence in the Planktonic Ecosystem of the North Atlantic: Measurements and Modeling in Support of the Marine Light and Mixed Layer Program
Abstract
Our long term goal is to understand the biological and optical properties of the planktonic community of the open ocean and to derive mathematical descriptions of this community. We pursue our research goal largely by analyzing bio-optical signals measured in the field and by comparing these signals with the predictions of mathematical models. During this work we developed a macrophotometric technique for measuring the absorption of light by suspended microparticles in sea water. We also developed in collaboration with R. Iturriaga a technique for measuring the absorption efficiency factor for individuals cells. During the 4 Biowatt cruises in 1987, we made over 500 measurements of the spectral absorption coefficient of suspended microparticles and developed a statistical technique for determining the contribution by phytoplankton to this coefficient. In addition, we completed a microphotometric analysis of spectral light absorption efficiency by individual particles collected during the Biowatt I cruise. In 1988 we continued our analysis of variability in the spectral absorption coefficient of microparticles in the western Sargasso Sea. (jes)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222384
Entities
People
- Dale A. Kiefer
Organizations
- University of Southern California