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Scattering and attenuation properties of Emiliania huxleyi cells and their detached coccoliths
Author(s) -
Voss Kenneth J.,
Balch William M.,
Kilpatrick Katherine A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1998.43.5.0870
Subject(s) - emiliania huxleyi , coccolithophore , coccolith , scattering , attenuation , wavelength , optics , particle (ecology) , light scattering , mie scattering , materials science , chemistry , physics , geology , phytoplankton , oceanography , organic chemistry , nutrient , carbonate , metallurgy
Measurements of the spectral scattering and attenuation properties of coccolithophores ( Emiliania huxleyi ; clone 88E) and their associated coccoliths were made for three growth phases as well as for acidified cultures. These measurements allow a clean separation and determination of the optical effects of the various components. The beam attenuation cross sections (m 2 particle −1 ) were found to be 8.4E‐12, 2.6E‐10, and 4.9E‐11 for coccoliths, plated cells, and naked cells, respectively, at 440 nm. The spectral dependence of these factors followed a power law dependence, with a wavelength exponent of −1.9, 0.42, and −0.52 for the coccoliths, plated cells, and naked cells. The volume scattering functions for all appeared similar; however, the backscattering cross sections (m 2 particle −1 ) at 456 nm were 1.4E‐13, 6.7E‐12, and 9.9E‐13, respectively. The wavelength dependence of this parameter also followed a power law and was −1.4, −1.2, and −1.0. Overall, these results show that optical properties of a coccolithophore bloom are sensitive to the coccolith:cell ratio and can vary between and within blooms.