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Spectral scattering properties of turbid waters
Author(s) -
Whitlock Charles H.,
Poole Lamont R.,
Houghton William M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl007i001p00081
Subject(s) - attenuation coefficient , scattering , wavelength , attenuation , optics , materials science , absorption (acoustics) , scattering coefficient , forward scatter , light scattering , physics
River water samples have been examined for optical scattering properties at wavelengths between 400 and 800 nm. Scattering coefficients were calculated from measurements of beam attenuation and absorption coefficients and are observed to vary with wavelength. At a fixed wavelength, the scattering coefficient is influenced by both phytoplankton concentration (as indicated by chlorophyll a ) and suspended solids concentration. Measurements of small angle volume‐scattering function indicate that the phase function at an angle of 1.5° is not constant for turbid waters and varies with both wavelength and beam attenuation coefficient. These data differ from previously published results for relatively clear oceanic and coastal waters. Caution is required when attempting to estimate scattering coefficient values from single‐angle measurements of volume‐scattering function.