Abstract
Data on optical properties such as diffuse attenuation coefficient K d(PAR), beam attenuation coefficient (c p) and the optically active constituents (OACs) CDOM, Chl-a and suspended particulate matter were obtained in a Danish temperate coastal plain estuary (56°N) and a Vietnamese tropical ria (12°N) at high discharges. The major difference was the spatial distribution of the optical properties against distance, best described by significant power functions in the ria, compared to significant linear functions in the coastal plain. It was hypothesized that estuarine morphometry could explain this spatial distribution. Partition and multiple regression analyses showed that Chl-a governed K d(PAR) and beam attenuation coefficient in both estuaries. Significant, high correlations were obtained by multiple regression analyses in the estimation of K d(PAR) and beam attenuation coefficients in the two estuaries using OACs as input parameters. It is concluded that there are no large differences in OAC concentrations between the two estuaries. The spatial distributions of OACs and optical properties were significantly different and governed by the estuary morphometry, i.e. a power distribution in the tropical ria and a linear function in the temperate coastal plain estuary, and applicable to similar estuary types.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, J. W. & E. T. Lavalle, 1984. The effect of particle size on the light attenuation coefficient of natural suspensions. Journal of Geophysical Research 89(C5): 8197–8203.
Bissett, W. P., J. S. Patch, L. K. Carder & Z. P. Lee, 1997. Pigment packaging and Chl a-specific absorption in high-light oceanic waters. Limnology and Oceanography 42: 961–968.
Bowers, D. G. & H. L. Brett, 2008. The relationship between CDOM and salinity in estuaries: an analytical and graphical solution. Journal of Marine systems 73: 1–7.
Bowers, D. G. & E. G. Mitchelson-Jacob, 1996. Inherent optical properties of the Irish Sea determined from underwater irradiance measurements. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 43: 433–447.
Bowers, D. G., G. E. L. Harker, P. S. D. Smith & P. Tett, 2000. Optical properties of a region of freshwater influence – the Clyde Sea. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 50: 717–726.
Bowers, D. G., D. Evans, D. N. Thomas, K. Ellis & P. J. Williams, 2004. Interpreting the colours of an estuary. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 59: 13–20.
Bricaud, A., A. Morel & L. Prieur, 1983. Optical efficiency factors of some phytoplankters. Limnology and Oceanography 28: 816–832.
Campbell, D. E. & R. W. Spinrad, 1987. The relationship between light attenuation and particle characteristics in a turbid estuary. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 25: 53–65.
Christian, D. & Y. P. Sheng, 2003. Relative influence of various water quality parameters on light attenuation in Indian River Lagoon. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 57: 961–971.
Conley, J. D., S. Markager, J. Andersen, T. Ellermann & L. M. Svendsen, 2002. Coastal eutrophication and the Danish National Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Program. Estuaries 25: 848–861.
Devlin, M. J., J. Barry, D. K. Mills, R. J. Gowen, J. Foden, D. Sivyer, N. Greenwood, D. Pearce & P. Tett, 2009. Estimating the diffuse attenuation coefficient from optically active constituents in UK marine waters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 82: 73–83.
Fairbridge, R. W., 1980. The estuary: its definition and geodynamic cycle. In Olausson, E. & I. Cato (eds), Chemistry and Biochemistry of Estuaries. Wiley, New York: 1–35.
Gallegos, C. L., T. E. Jordan, A. H. Hines & D. E. Weller, 2005. Temporal variability of optical properties in a shallow eutrophic estuary: season and interannual variability. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 64: 156–170.
Jerlov, N. G., 1976. Marine Optics, 2nd Edition. Elsevier Oceanography Series, 14. Amsterdam. 371 pp.
Kelble, C. R., P. B. Ortner, G. L. Hitchcock & J. N. Boyer, 2005. Attenuation of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) in Florida Bay: potential of light limitation of primary producers. Estuaries 28: 560–571.
Kirk, J. T. O., 1994. Light and Photosynthesis in the aquatic ecosystems. Cambridge University Press. 509 pp.
Kostoglidis, A., C. B. Pattiaratchi & D. P. Hamilton, 2005. CDOM and its contribution to the underwater light climate in a shallow, microtidal estuary in south-western Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 63: 469–477.
Lund-Hansen, L. C., 2004. Diffuse attenuation coefficients Kd(PAR) at the estuarine North Sea – Baltic Sea transition: time-series, partitioning, absorption, and scattering. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 61: 251–259.
Lund-Hansen, L. C. & C. Christiansen, 2008. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the North Sea-Baltic Sea transition: distributions, inventories, and the autumn 2002 inflows. Danish Journal of Geography 108: 37–47.
Lund-Hansen, L. C., P. C. D. Amezua Ayala & A. F. Reglero, 2006. Bio-optical properties and development of a sub-surface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) in southwest Kattegat, Baltic Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 68: 372–378.
Lund-Hansen, L. C., D. N. Hai, N. N. Lam & M. H. Nielsen, 2010a. Optical properties of a tropical estuary during wet and dry conditions in the Nha Phu Estuary, KhanhHoa Province, south-east Vietnam. Hydrobiologia 644: 207–216.
Lund-Hansen, L. C., T. J. Andersen, M. H. Nielsen & M. Pejrup, 2010b. Suspended matter, Chl-a CDOM, grain sizes, and optical properties in the arctic fjord-type estuary Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland, during summer. Estuaries and Coasts 33: 1442–1451.
McMahon, T. G., R. C. T. Raine, T. Fast, L. Kies & J. W. Patching, 1992. Phytoplankton biomass, light attenuation andmixing in the Shannon Estuary, Ireland. Journal of Marine Biological Association UK 72: 709–720.
Milliman, J. D. & R. H. Meade, 1983. Worldwide delivery of river sediment to the oceans. Journal of Geology 91: 1–21.
Morel, A. & A. Bricaud, 1981. Theoretical results concerning light absorption in a discrete medium, and application to specific absorption of phytoplankton. Deep-Sea Research 28: 1375–1393.
Neukermans, G., H. Loisel, X. Me’riaux, R. Astoreca & D. McKee, 2012. In situ variability of mass-specific beam attenuation and backscattering of marineparticles with respect to particle size, density, and composition. Limnology and Oceanography 57: 124–144.
Nielsen, K., B. Sømod, C. Ellegaard & D. Krause-Jensen, 2003. Assessing reference conditions according to European Water Framework Directive using modeling and analysis of historical data: An example from Randers Fjord, Denmark. AMBIO 32: 287–294.
Pfannkuche, J., 2002. Optical properties of the Otago shelf waters. South Island New Zealand. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 55: 613–627.
Philips, D. M. & J. T. O. Kirk, 1984. Study of the spectral variation of absorption and scattering in some Australian waters. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater 35: 635–644.
Smith, R. C. & K. S. Baker, 1981. Optical properties of the clearest natural waters (200–800 nm). Applied Optics. 20: 177–184.
Stedmon, C. A., S. Markager & H. Kaas, 2000. Optical properties and signatures of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Danish coastal waters. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 51: 267–278.
Strickland, J. D. H. & T. R. Parson, 1972. A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analyses. Ottawa, Canada: 235 pp.
Underwood, G. J. C. & J. Kromkamp, 1999. Primary production by phytoplankton and microphytobenthos in estuaries. Advances in Ecological Research 26: 93–153.
Vant, W. N., 1990. Causes of light attenuation in nine New Zealand estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 31: 125–137.
Wells, J. T. & S.-Y. Kim, 1991. The relationship between beam transmission and concentration of suspended particulate material in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina. Estuaries 14: 395–403.
Wolanski, E., N. N. Huan, L. T. Daos, H. N. Nhan & N. N. Thuy, 1996. Fine-sediment dynamics in the Mekong River Estuary, Vietnam. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 43: 565–582.
Acknowledgments
The study was partly supported by the CLIMEEViet project PV-2 funded by DANIDA, Danish Foreign Ministry, and is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks to EsbenDalgaard and crew on board TYRA.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Handling editor: Pierluigi Viaroli
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lund-Hansen, L.C., Nielsen, J.M., Blüthgen, J. et al. Estuarine morphometry governs optically active substances, K d(PAR) and beam attenuation: assessments from a tropical ria and a temperate coastal plain estuary. Hydrobiologia 711, 19–30 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1457-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1457-1