Advances on modelling, simulation and signal processing of ultrasonic scattering responses from phytoplankton cultures

High-frequency acoustic techniques provide remote sensing capability for plankton biomass estimation. While these techniques have been widely used to investigate zooplankton with frequencies below 1 MHz, few acoustical studies have been reported for phythoplanktonic organisms. Phytoplankton belongs to the lowest trophic level in the aquatic food chain and plays an important role in the marine ecosystem. There are some species that can be used as biological indicators of polluted waters while others produce harmful algae blooms affecting anthropogenic activities. Acoustically monitoring of phytoplankton is potentially useful for real time estimation of its numerical abundance. Quantitative measurements of scattering from phytoplankton are difficult to perform due to the weak scattered intensity. Moreover, unmasking the acoustic response from spurious scattering generated by bubbles, suspended particles and other organisms in mixed plankton populations is necessary. Advances on analysis and signal processin...