Open AccessParticle backscattering as a function of chlorophyll and phytoplankton size structure in the open-ocean
Author(s) -
Robert J. W. Brewin,
Giorgio Dall’Olmo,
Shubha Sathyendranath,
Nick J. Hardman-Mountford
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.017632
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , environmental science , chlorophyll a , particle size , ecosystem , particle (ecology) , population , oceanography , chlorophyll , atmospheric sciences , remote sensing , physics , biology , ecology , geology , nutrient , botany , paleontology , demography , sociology
Using an extensive database of in situ observations we present a model that estimates the particle backscattering coefficient as a function of the total chlorophyll concentration in the open-ocean (Case-1 waters). The parameters of the model include a constant background component and the chlorophyll-specific backscattering coefficients associated with small (<20 μm) and large (>20 μm) phytoplankton. The new model performed with similar accuracy when compared with a traditional power-law function, with the additional benefit of providing information on the role of phytoplankton size. The observed spectral-dependency (γ) of model parameters was consistent with past observations, such that γ associated with the small phytoplankton population was higher than that of large phytoplankton. Furthermore, γ associated with the constant background component suggests this component is likely attributed to submicron particles. We envisage that the model would be useful for improving Case-1 ocean-colour models, assimilating light into multi-phytoplankton ecosystem models and improving estimates of phytoplankton size structure from remote sensing.