Light Scattering by Marine Particles: Modeling with Non-Spherical Shapes
Abstract
The inherent optical properties (IOPs) of marine particles are most-often modeled as homogeneous spheres using Mie Theory. Although this approach has been fruitful, the next logical step in modeling marine particles is to abandon the normally-employed spherical approximation and use more realistic approximations to their shape. The advent of computer codes capable of handling more complex shapes, and the increased computational speeds now available, suggest that particle modeling that employs simple non-spherical shapes, e.g., disks, rods, etc., could become routine. However, as such simple shapes are still at best poor approximations to real particles, it is important to ask the following question: how far can the actual shape of a particle deviate from these simple shapes and still be realistically modeled? In other words, will modeling marine particles with these simple shapes be a useful improvement over modeling by spheres? These questions are the focus of the present research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA548726
Entities
People
- Howard R. Gordon
Organizations
- University of Miami