A three-layered sphere model of the optical properties of phytoplankton

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 UTC 1992 · Limnology and Oceanography; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4319/lo.1992.37.8.1680· OSTI ID:6887752

Kitchen, J C; Zaneveld, J R.V. ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States)

Theoretical scattering computations are performed on a phytoplankton model consisting of three concentric spheres. The outer sphere represents the wall, membrane, or frustule and is assigned a relatively high index of refraction with no absorption. The middle layer represents the chloroplasts and is assigned a relatively low index of refraction with absorption. The core represents the balance of the cytoplasm and is given a low index of refraction with no absorption. The model is applied to an observed size distribution from the Pacific central gyre. This model produced significantly more backscattering and attenuation than a low-index, homogeneous-sphere model. Changing the distribution of cell-wall thickness as a function of particle size produces much variation in the shape of the volume scattering function. 25 refs., 12 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6887752
• Journal Information: Limnology and Oceanography; (United States), Journal Name: Limnology and Oceanography; (United States) Vol. 37:8; ISSN LIOCAH; ISSN 0024-3590
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540310* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ABSORPTION
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATTENUATION
BACKSCATTERING
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL WALL
CHLOROPLASTS
CYTOPLASM
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
OPTICAL MODELS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PARTICLE SIZE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PLANTS
REFRACTION
SCATTERING
SHAPE
SIZE
SORPTION
SPHERES
THICKNESS
VOLUME