The vertical distribution of the beam attenuation coefficient and its correlation to the particulate organic carbon in the north South China Sea

Wansong Cui; Difeng Wang; Fang Gong; Yan Bai; Lin Zhang; Qiankun Zhu; Peng Chen

doi:10.1117/12.2241515

19 October 2016 The vertical distribution of the beam attenuation coefficient and its correlation to the particulate organic carbon in the north South China Sea

Wansong Cui, Difeng Wang, Fang Gong, Yan Bai, Lin Zhang, Qiankun Zhu, Peng Chen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9999, Remote Sensing of the Ocean, Sea Ice, Coastal Waters, and Large Water Regions 2016; 99991A (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2241515
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The beam attenuation coefficient (c), an inherent optical property of water, can provide information about the particulate matter in the water. In this study, the vertical distribution of the particulate beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm (c_p(660)) and its correlation to the particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations in the north South China Sea (NSCS), was investigated based on the in situ data from two cruises covering the summer and autumn seasons during 2009-2010year. The results showed that in summer, the profiles of c_p(660) at the near shore stations were generally well vertical mixed, except at the bottom layer where c_p(660) sharply increased due to sediment resuspension. However, in the slope and basin, the profiles of c_p(660) had the peak value in the subsurface layer, and the depth of maximum increased with the increasing of the water depth. The subsurface maximum of the c_p(660) was corresponding to the subsurface maximum Chl-a in the shelf and basin in the NSCS in summer. In autumn, the depth profile of c_p(660) was also well mixed in the near shore, similar as it in summer. In the basin, unlike the subsurface maximum in summer, c_p(660) had the decreasing trend with the increasing of depth in most stations in autumn. The spatial distribution pattern of the surface c_p(660) was similar in the two seasons, with high values in near shore and low values in the shelf and basin. This was mainly attributed to the river and terrigenous organic materials. There were good correlations between c_p(660) and POC in both seasons, except some near shore stations with high sediment resuspension. That made the possibility of estimating the POC profile using the c_p(660), and further calculating the vertical structure with satellite-derived surface POC.

Citation Download Citation

Wansong Cui, Difeng Wang, Fang Gong, Yan Bai, Lin Zhang, Qiankun Zhu, and Peng Chen "The vertical distribution of the beam attenuation coefficient and its correlation to the particulate organic carbon in the north South China Sea", Proc. SPIE 9999, Remote Sensing of the Ocean, Sea Ice, Coastal Waters, and Large Water Regions 2016, 99991A (19 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2241515

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available