Measured and modelled optical properties of particulate matter in the southern Benguela : research article
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Particulate absorption, particle size distributions and HPLC-derived pigments were used in combination with particle scattering
models to examine the optical properties of natural algal assemblages
in the southern Benguela. Inverse anomalous diffraction
(IAD) models were used to derive the real and imaginary parts of the
mean spherical equivalent particulate refractive index from absorption
and particle size measurements. Such data were utilized with
an homogeneous sphere Mie model to calculate particulate backscattering
coefficients. The influence of natural particle size distributions
on the ability of the IAD model to return unique refractive
index values was assessed. Measured absorption and modelled
backscattering coefficients, in addition to derived optical efficiency
factors, were examined with regard to the influence of size, refractive
index parameters and the variability of algal assemblages in
the southern Benguela. The real part of the refractive index, as
determined by the IAD model, was demonstrated to be a useful
descriptor of algal assemblage structure. Significant non-linear
relationships were established between the algal backscattering:
absorption ratio and the real part of the particulate refractive index,
indicating the potential to calculate the real part of the particulate
refractive index from ocean colour data.
Source: South African Journal of Science
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2901018784