From Microns to Millimeters: the Use of Optically Determined Particle Size and Distribution in Understanding Coastal Vertical Mixing Processes

Abstract

LONG-TERM GOALS. Our long-term goals are 1) to determine how changes in particle size distribution, composition and concentration on the shelf affect inherent optical properties (attenuation, absorption and scattering) and 2) correlate these measurements with hydrographic measurements (including wave and current shear stress as measured by others) to determine the forcing functions and biological processes that cause the temporal and spatial variations in optical properties on the shelf. OBJECTIVES. 1. Determine the relationship between inherent optical and particle characteristics (composition, mass concentration, and size distribution) for the area studied during the Coastal Mixing and Optics (CMO) Advanced Research Initiative (ARI). 2. Determine how the above relationships vary between periods of high stratification (late summer) and low stratification (early spring) conditions. 3. Determine the significance of the presence of large aggregates on the inherent optical properties.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 1999
Accession Number
ADA629759

Entities

People

  • Ian D. Walsh
  • Mary Jo Richardson
  • Wilford D. Gardner

Organizations

  • Texas A&M University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attenuation
  • Bottom Waters
  • Boundary Layer
  • Continental Shelves
  • Layers
  • Measurement
  • New England
  • Oceans
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Particle Flux
  • Particle Size
  • Particles
  • Particulates
  • Shear Stresses
  • Universities
  • Water

Readers

  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Regression Analysis.