Evaluating Forward Light Scattering Measurements
Abstract
Forward light scattering can be used for rapid determination of in situ particle size distributions (PSD) based on an inversion of the volume scattering function (VSF). One advantage of this technique is that it can capture continuous in situ data rather than discrete depth bottle measurements, which are more common and more laborious. To evaluate our ability to measure the VSF, a multi-institution effort was conducted to test the performance of several instruments that measure scattering. This presentation focuses on the performance of two instruments, the VABAM (variable Aperture Beam Attenuation Meter, WetLabs, Inc.) and the LISST-IOO (Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissiometry, Sequoia Scientific), that measure forward scatter at small angles. This study compares the results from Mie theory with controlled lab experiments. Phytoplankton monocultures and polystyrene beads ranging in size from 0.6 to 160mum were used in various concentrations in laboratory tank tests. Here we compare the measured VSF's to theoretical results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 22, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA419548
Entities
People
- Alan Dean Weidemann
- Amanda Briggs
- Jennifer Prentice
- W. Pegau
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory