Relationships Between Optical Backscattering and Particle Composition in Coastal and Open Ocean Waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Neeharika Verma,  University of Massachusetts Dartmouth,  nverma@umassd.edu
Steven Lohrenz,  University of Massachusetts Dartmouth,  slohrenz@umassd.edu (Presenter)

The characterization of particulate composition and its relationship to phytoplankton community structure can provide insights about ecological, biogeochemical, and physical processes in the ocean. Our objective was to examine relationships of backscattering to total suspended matter, particulate carbon, and indices of photosynthetic pigment composition, including chlorophyll concentrations and associated proxies for phytoplankton size classes. Here, we compared various measurements of backscattering, an inherent optical property, from in situ data obtained from three independent instruments (AC9, BB9, VSF3) across horizontal and vertical spatial scales, as well as remotely sensed hyperspectral measurements of surface waters (HyperSAS) across horizontal spatial scales. Through this study, we demonstrate relationships between backscattering measurements, such as particulate backscattering and backscattering ratio, and particle composition and phytoplankton size structure across vertical and horizontal environmental gradients in optically complex coastal and open ocean waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Poster: Poster_Verma_3-13_144_35.pdf 

Poster Location ID: 3-13

Presentation Type: Poster

Session: Poster Session 3

Session Date: Thu (May 11) 3:00-5:00 PM

CCE Program: OBB