Influences of Microbial and Mineral Particles on Oceanic Optics
Abstract
The effects of microbial and mineral particles, and of dissolved substances, on marine light fields were investigated using a database of single-particle optical properties as input to the Hydrolight radiative transfer numerical model. This database now includes 24 microbial species as well as generic mineral particles, organic detritus, and microbubbles. Significant results include: (1) It is possible to define generic prochlorophyes and Synechococcus species, but this cannot be done for nanoplankton. (2) The detailed species composition of small nanoplankton is not crucial, so long as the various-sized particles obey a Junge size distribution overall, with the same total concentration of these particles. (3) The natural variability in the parameters used in simple bio-optical models for dissolved substances and detritus can have effects on the remote-sensing reflectance that are as large as a factor-of-two change in the chlorophyll concentration. (4) Organic detritus can have a large effect on remotely sensed signals and therefore deserves more research attention. An improved methodology for estimating the remote-sensing reflectance from above-water measurements is presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA362275
Entities
People
- Curtis D. Mobley
- Dariusz Stramski