Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variation in downwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient in the northern South China Sea

  • Physics
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance (K d(λ)) is an important parameter for ocean studies. Based on the optical profile data measured during three cruises in the northern South China Sea in autumn from 2003 to 2005, variations in the K d(λ) spectra were analyzed. The variability of K d(λ) shows much distinct features in both magnitude and spectra pattern, it is much higher in coastal waters than that of open oceanic waters; and the blue-to-green (443/555) ratio of K d(λ) tends to increase with chlorophyll a concentration ([Chl-a]) from open ocean to coastal waters. These characteristics can be explained most by the increase of a w+p(443)/a w+p(555) with [Chl-a]. In short waveband, the relation between K d(λ)-K w(λ) and [Chl-a] can be well described by a power law function, indicating the large contribution of phytoplankton to the variations in K d(λ). As for the spectral model of the diffuse attenuation coefficient, there are good linear relationships between K d(490) and K d(λ) in other wavelengths with own slope and intercept of a linear functions in the spectral range 412–555 nm. K d(490) is well correlated with the spectral ratio of remote sensing reflectance; and should enough measurement data are given, this empirical algorithm would be used in the K d(λ) retrieval from ocean color satellite data. The variation in K d(λ) provides much useful information for us to study the bio-optical property in the northern South China Sea.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Austin, R. W. and T. J. Petzold, 1981. The determination of the diffuse attenuation coefficient of sea water using the Coastal Zone Color Scanner. In: Garver J. F. R. (ed.) Oceanography from Space. Springer, New York. p. 239–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, R. W. and T. J. Petzold, 1986. Spectral dependence of the diffuse attenuation coefficient of light in ocean waters. Opt. Eng. 25: 473–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, R. W. and T. J. Petzold, 1990. Spectral dependence of the diffuse attenuation coefficient of light in ocean waters: a reexamination using new data. Richard W Spinrad, Proc SPIE, Ocean Optics x 1302, 79–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berthon, J. F. and G. Zibordi, 2004. Bio-optical relationships for the northern Adriatic Sea. Int. J. Remote Sensing 25:1 527–1 532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, W. X., Y. Z. Yang, S. Liu, X. Q. Xu, D. T. Yang and J. L. Zhang, 2005. Spectral absorption coefficient of phytoplankton and its relation to chlorophyll a and remote sensing reflectance in coastal waters of southern China. Progress in Natural Science 15(4): 342–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, G. C. and T. D. Dickey, 2004. Coastal ocean optical influences on solar transmission and radiant heating rate. J. Geophys. Res. 109: C01020, doi: 10.1029/2003JC001821.

  • Gordon, H. R., 1989. Can the Lambert-Beer law be applied to the diffuse attenuation coefficient of ocean water? Limnol. Oceanogr. 34: 1 389–1 409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerlov, N. G., 1976. Marine Optics. Elsevier, New York. 231p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, J. T. O., 1994. Light and Photosynthesis in Aquatic Ecosystems (2nd edition). Cambridge Univ. Press, New York. 400p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopelevich, O. V. and Y. V. Filippov, 1994. Comparison between different spectral models of the diffuse attenuation and absorption coefficients of seawater. Jules S Jaffe(ed), SPIE, Ocean Optics XII 2 258: 210–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Z. P., K. L. Carder and R. Arnone, 2002. Deriving inherent optical properties from water color: A multi-band quasi-analytical algorithm for optically deep waters. Appl. Opt. 41: 5 755–5 772.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Z. P., K. P. Du and R. Arnone, 2005a. A model for the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance. J. Geophys. Res. C02016, doi:10. 1029/2004 JC002275.

  • Lee, Z. P., M. Darecki, K. L. Carder, C. O. Davis, D. Stramski and W. J. Rhea, 2005b. Diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance: An evaluation of remote sensing methods. J. Geophys. Res. C02017, doi: 10.1029 /2004JC002573.

  • Lewis, M. R., M. Carr, G. C. Feldman, W. Esaias and C. McClain, 1990. Influence of penetrating solar radiation on the heat budget of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Nature 347: 543–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marra, J., C. Langdon and C. A. Knudson, 1995. Primary production, water column changes, and the demise of a Phaeocystis bloom at the Marine Light-Mixed Layers site (59°N, 21°W) in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. J. Geophys. Res. 100: 6 633–6 644.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClain, C. R., K. Arrigo, K. S. Tai and D. Turk, 1996. Observations and simulations of physical and biological processes at ocean weather station P, 1951–1980. J. Geophys. Res. 101: 3 697–3 713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mélin, F., J. F. Berthon and G. Zibordi, 2005. Assessment of apparent and inherent optical properties derived from SeaWiFS with field data. Remote Sensing of Envioronment 97: 540–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, D. R, S. Narumalani, D. Rundquist and M. Lawson, 2005. Characterizing the vertical diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance in coastal waters: Implications for water penetration by high resolution satellite data. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 60: 48–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, B. G. and M. Kahru, 1998. Algorithms for SeaWiFS standard products developed with the CAICOFI bio-optical data set. CalCOFI Reports. 39: 133–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morel, A. and D. Antoine, 1994. Heating rate within the upper ocean in relation to its bio-optical state. J. Phys. Oceanogr. 24: 1 652–1 665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel, A., 1988. Optical modeling of the upper ocean in relation to its biogenous matter content (case 1 waters). J. Geophys. Res. 93: 10 749–10 768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morel, A. and S. Maritorena, 2001. Bio-optical properties of oceanic waters: A reappraisal. J. Geophys. Res. 106:7 163–7 180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, J. L. and C. C. Trees, 1997. Revised SeaWiFS prelaunch algorithm for diffuse attenuation coefficient K(490). NASA Tech Memo, TM-104566 41: 18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, J. L., 2000. SeaWiFS algorithm for the diffuse attenuation coefficient, K(490), using water-leaving radiances at 490 and 555 nm. In: Hooker S. B. ed. SeaWiFS Postlaunch Calibration and Validation Analyses, Part 3, NASA Goddard Space Flight Cent, Greenbelt, Md. p. 24–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, J. L., C. Davis, R. Arnone, R. Frouin, K. L. Carder, Z. P. Lee, R. G. Steward, S. Hooker, C. D. Mobley, and S. McLean, 2002. Abovewater radiance and remote sensing reflectance measurement and analysis protocols, NASA Tech. Mem., TM-2002-210004, 171–182

  • O’Reilly, J. E., S. Maritorena, B. G. Mitchell, D. A. Siegel, K. L. Carder, S. A. Garver, M. Kahru and C. McClain, 1998. Ocean color chlorophyll algorithms for SeaWiFS. J. Geophys. Res. 103: 24 937–24 953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T. R., Y. Maita and C. M. Lalli, 1984. A Manual of Chemical and Biological Methods for Seawater Analysis. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, H. L., C. R. Sun, Z. Zhang and Y. Shao, 2004. Characteristics of diffuse attenuation coefficient in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea areas. Marine Science Bulletin 23(4): 15–18. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, D. A. and A. F. Michaels, 1996. Quantification of non-algal light attenuation in the Sargasso Sea: implications for biogeochemistry and remote sensing. Deep-Sea Res. II 43(2–3): 321–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stramska, M., D. Stramski, R. Hapter, S. Kaczmarek and J. Stoń, 2003. Bio-optical relationships and ocean color algorithms for the north polar region of the Atlantic. J. Geophys. Res. 108(C5): 3143, doi:10.1029/2001JC001195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang, J. W. and Q. L. Chen, 1998. Methods of oceanic spectral data measurement and analysis. Marine Science Bulletin 17(1): 71–79. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Volynsky, V. A. and A. I. Sudbin, 1992. Statistical analysis of spectra of diffuse attenuation coefficient. Oceanologia 32(5): 821–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G. F., W. X. Cao, D. Z. Xu, S. Liu and J. L. Zhang, 2005a. Variations in chlorophyll a-specific absorption coefficients of phytoplankton in the north of the South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Oceanography 24(5): 1–10. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. M., J. W. Tang, J. Ding, C. F. Ma, T. J. Li, X. Y. Wang and D. Y. Bi, 2005b. The retrieval algorithms of diffuse attenuation and transparency for the Case-II waters of the Huang Hai Sea and the East China Sea. Acta Oceanologia Sinica 27(5): 38–45. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. M., J. W. Tang, Q. J. Song, J. Ding and C. F. Ma, 2006. A research on statistical retrieval algorithms and spectral characteristics of the total absorption coefficients in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology 24(3):236–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, D. Z., W. X. Cao and G. F. Wang, 2007. A bio-optical model for retrieval of chlorophyll-a concentration in northern South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Oceanography 26(2): 15–21. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q. L., C. Q. Chen and P. Shi, 2003. Characteristics of K d(490) around Nansha Islands in South China Sea. Journal of Tropical Oceanography 22(1): 9–16. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. L., B. Q. Qin, W. M. Chen and D. T. Yang, 2004. Regress analysis of beam attenuation coefficient under water in lake Taihu. Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica 35(3): 209–213. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng, X. B., T. Dickey and G. Chang, 2002. Variability of the downwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient with consideration of inelastic scattering. Appl. Opt. 41(30): 6 477–6 488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, Q. Y. and Y. S. Fang, 1982. Research on the Ocean Optical Properties in Waters around Central Nansha Island. South China Sea General Observation Report I. Science Press, Beijing. p. 187–198. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LED Laboratory, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China

    Guifen Wang  (王桂芬), Wenxi Cao  (曹文熙), Dingtian Yang  (杨顶田) & Dazhi Xu  (许大志)

  2. The Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Guifen Wang  (王桂芬)

Authors
  1. Guifen Wang  (王桂芬)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wenxi Cao  (曹文熙)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dingtian Yang  (杨顶田)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dazhi Xu  (许大志)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenxi Cao  (曹文熙).

Additional information

Supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-215) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40476019), and the Project of Knowledge Innovation of South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (No. LYQY200701).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, G., Cao, W., Yang, D. et al. Variation in downwelling diffuse attenuation coefficient in the northern South China Sea. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 26, 323–333 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-008-0323-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-008-0323-x

Keyword

Search

Navigation