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Measurement of attenuation coefficients in natural water columns
Author(s) -
Winterle John S.,
Tse Doris,
Mabey William R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620060904
Subject(s) - actinometer , attenuation coefficient , attenuation , absorption (acoustics) , chemistry , particulates , scattering , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental science , environmental chemistry , optics , physics , nuclear physics , plasma , organic chemistry
Abstract Light scattering and light absorption by particulates and humic substances in natural waters can significantly affect the photoreaction rates of chemicals in aquatic systems. These scattering and absorption processes are quantitatively described by the use of an empirical parameter, the diffuse attenuation coefficient, K. We have tested actinometric and radiometric methods for measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient K which can be used to calculate the depth averaged rate constant ( k pavg ) in a specific water body. The two methods were found to give excellent agreement. We found the method using a chemical actinometer system to be the most practical and convenient for use in field studies, but that more studies in other water systems and with other test cheimcals are needed to more rigorously test the method. We calculated k pavg equal to 0.33 ±0.17d −1 for carbazole in a 1‐m test pond.