Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Optics Express

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Publication Date

7-19-2010

First Page

15419

Last Page

15425

Issue Number

15

Volume Number

18

Abstract/ Summary

We present an extensive data set of particle attenuation (cp), backscattering (bbp), and chlorophyll concentration (Chl) from a diverse set of open ocean environments. A consistent observation in the data set is the strong coherence between cp and bbp and the resulting constancy of the backscattering ratio (0.010 ± 0.002). The strong covariability between cp and bbp must be rooted in one or both of two explanations, 1) the size distribution of particles in the ocean is remarkably conserved and particle types responsible for cp and bbp covary, 2) the same particle types exert influence on both quantities. Therefore, existing relationships between cp or Chl:cp and phytoplankton biomass and physiological indices can be conceptually extended to the use of bbp. This finding lends support to use of satellite-derived Chl and bbp for investigation of phytoplankton biomass and physiology and broadens the applications of existing ocean color retrievals.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Westberry, T.K, G. Dall'Olmo, E. Boss, M.J. Behrenfeld, and T. Moutin, 2010. Coherence of particulate beam attenuation and backscattering coefficients in diverse open ocean environments. Opt. Express Vol. 18, No. 15, 15419-15425

Publisher Statement

©2010 Optical Society of America

DOI

10.1364/OE.18.015419

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.