Characterization and Modeling of Inherent Optical Properties in the Gulf of Maine
Abstract
Our longterm goal is to contribute to a fundamental understanding of the sources of biological, physical and optical variability in coastal ocean systems. Particular focus is on applications useful for studying important ecological processes and the links between phytoplankton properties and physical processes in coastal regions. The overall objective of this project is to improve understanding of the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank system through characterization and modeling of optical properties in the context of physical and biological processes. We wish to describe the processes controlling space/time variability in the various constituents (CDOM, phytoplankton, sediment, detrital particles) that determine the optical properties of this region. As planned, our effort to date has been concentrated on processing and quality control for optical and hydrographic data collected during 5 cruises during 1997-1999. We have also made progress towards compiling an accessible database that includes our observations plus those collected by several other investigators working in the Gulf of Maine region. The compiled database is now being used to generate empirically driven parameterizations of optical variability for the Gulf of Maine region, which will in turn be used to construct an optical submodel (to later be coupled with biological and physical models). Our preliminary efforts to characterize optical variability present in the Gulf of Maine at different times of year have documented that some properties must be considered seasonally variable, while others seem more temporally stable. These observations will be quantitatively incorporated into the optical model we are constructing. Ultimately, we expect that integrating models of optical properties into our physically realistic ecosystem simulations will contribute to better understanding of the processes contributing to optical variability in coastal waters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA400321
Entities
People
- Dennis J. McGillicuddy
- Heidi M Sosik
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution