Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Optics Express

Rights and Access Note

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Publication Date

9-10-2012

First Page

21532

Last Page

21551

Issue Number

19

Volume Number

20

Abstract/ Summary

The particulate optical backscattering coefficient (bbp) is a fundamental optical property that allows monitoring of marine suspended particles both in situ and from space. Backscattering measurements in the open ocean are still scarce, however, especially in oligotrophic regions. Consequently, uncertainties remain in bbp parameterizations as well as in satellite estimates of bbp. In an effort to reduce these uncertainties, we present and analyze a dataset collected in surface waters during the 19th Atlantic Meridional Transect. Results show that the relationship between particulate beam-attenuation coefficient (cp) and chlorophyll-a concentration was consistent with published bio-optical models. In contrast, the particulate backscattering per unit of chlorophyll-a and per unit of cp were higher than in previous studies employing the same sampling methodology. These anomalies could be due to a bias smaller than the current uncertainties in bbp. If that was the case, then the AMT19 dataset would confirm that bbp:cp is remarkably constant over the surface open ocean. A second-order decoupling between b bp and cp was, however, evident in the spectral slopes of these coefficients, as well as during diel cycles. Overall, these results emphasize the current difficulties in obtaining accurate bbp measurements in the oligotrophic ocean and suggest that, to first order, b bp and cp are coupled in the surface open ocean, but they are also affected by other geographical and temporal variations.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Dall’Olmo, G., E. Boss, M.J. Behrenfeld, and T.K. Westberry, 2012. Particulate optical scattering coefficients along an Atlantic Meridional Transect, Opt. Express 20, No. 19, 21532-21551

Publisher Statement

©2012 Optical Society of America

DOI

10.1364/OE.20.021532

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.