Influence of suspended particle concentration, composition and size on the variability of inherent optical properties of the Southern North Sea
Astoreca, R.; Doxaran, D.; Ruddick, K.; Rousseau, V.; Lancelot, C. (2012). Influence of suspended particle concentration, composition and size on the variability of inherent optical properties of the Southern North Sea, in: 44th international Liège colloquium on ocean dynamics "Remote sensing of colour, temperature and salinity – new challenges and opportunities" - May 7-11, 2012. pp. 1
In: (2012). 44th international Liège colloquium on ocean dynamics "Remote sensing of colour, temperature and salinity – new challenges and opportunities" - May 7-11, 2012. GHER, Université de Liège: Liège. 126 pp.
Suspended particles and the relationships between their concentration, composition and size with optical properties (light absorption, and attenuation in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions) were investigated in transects performed from the Belgian to the English coasts of the Southern North Sea. Results individualize three geographical zones in the domain, each one with specific biogeochemical and optical properties: Scheldt coastal zone (SCZ), Middle of the Southern North Sea (MSNS) and Thames coastal zone (TCZ). Concentrations of organic (inorganic) particles were always higher in the SCZ (TCZ). The load of particles in the MSNS was low and dominated by organic forms. The spectral shape of particle attenuation showed a wide range from negative to positive slopes. Particle size distributions were power-law shaped along the coasts (especially in the TCZ) but bimodal in the MSNS notably during the spring phytoplankton bloom. This bimodal size distribution and more precisely a size peak around 7µm resulted in an unexpected negative spectral slope of the particle attenuation coefficient. The variations in the particulate mass-specific IOPs between the three regions were maintained over seasonal variations. The implications in terms of remote sensing inversion of IOPs into biogeochemical parameters, such as chlorophyll a and total suspended matter, in coastal waters are discussed.
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