Determination of the absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter from underway spectrophotometry

Dall’Olmo, G, Brewin, RJW, Nencioli, F, Organelli, E, Lefering, I, McKee, D, Röttgers, R, Mitchell, C, Boss, E, Bricaud, A and Tilstone, GH 2017 Determination of the absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter from underway spectrophotometry. Optics Express, 25 (24). A1079. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.25.0A1079

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Abstract/Summary

Measurements of the absorption coefficient of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (ay) are needed to validate existing ocean-color algorithms. In the surface open ocean, these measurements are challenging because of low ay values. Yet, existing global datasets demonstrate that ay could contribute between 30% to 50% of the total absorption budget in the 400–450 nm spectral range, thus making accurate measurement of ay essential to constrain these uncertainties. In this study, we present a simple way of determining ay using a commercially-available in-situ spectrophotometer operated in underway mode. The obtained ay values were validated using independent collocated measurements. The method is simple to implement, can provide measurements with very high spatio-temporal resolution, and has an accuracy of about 0.0004 m−1 and a precision of about 0.0025 m−1 when compared to independent data (at 440 nm). The only limitation for using this method at sea is that it relies on the availability of relatively large volumes of ultrapure water. Despite this limitation, the method can deliver the ay data needed for validating and assessing uncertainties in ocean-colour algorithms.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	cdom, absorption, underway, spectrophotometry
Subjects:	Earth Observation - Remote Sensing Oceanography
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > Atlantic Meridional Transect Plymouth Marine Laboratory > National Capability categories > National Centre for Earth Observation Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Earth Observation Science and Applications
Depositing User:	Giorgio Dall'Olmo
Date made live:	20 Nov 2017 11:40
Last Modified:	25 Apr 2020 09:58
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7581

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