Life Sciences Commons^™

The Role Of Seawater Constituents In Light Backscattering In The Ocean, Dariusz Stramski, Emmanuel Boss, Darek Bogucki, Kenneth J. Voss

Marine Sciences Faculty Scholarship

The significance of light backscattering in the ocean is wide ranging, especially in optical remote sensing. However, the complexity of natural seawater as an optical medium often obscures the measured optical signals to the point that our present-day interpretation and detailed understanding of major sources of backscattering and its variability in the ocean are uncertain and controversial. Here we review the roles played by various seawater constituents in light backscattering and we address a question of 'missing' backscattering. Historically, this question has resulted from a hypothesis that under non-bloom conditions in the open ocean, phytoplankton make a significantly smaller contribution …