A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans
Abstract Vertical motion is an important driver of sunlight exposure in aquatic environments, shaping the growth and fate of materials and organisms. We derive a simple model accounting for turbulent depth fluctuations of particles to predict the depth that contributes the most sunlight exposure (ef...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10365 |
| _version_ | 1797258511061614592 |
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| author | John R. Gardner Martin W. Doyle Scott H. Ensign David M. Kahler |
| author_facet | John R. Gardner Martin W. Doyle Scott H. Ensign David M. Kahler |
| author_sort | John R. Gardner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Vertical motion is an important driver of sunlight exposure in aquatic environments, shaping the growth and fate of materials and organisms. We derive a simple model accounting for turbulent depth fluctuations of particles to predict the depth that contributes the most sunlight exposure (effective depth) as well as the single depth that, if measured at one place over time, produces the same total sunlight exposure as a moving particle (functional depth). Field measurements of light and depth in rivers using neutrally buoyant drifters and buoys validate our model. Effective depth varied from 0.1 to 1.5 m below the water surface and was ~ 30% of the overall water depth on average. Functional depth varied from 0.67 to 2.3 m and was ~ 50% of the overall water depth on average. Functional and effective depth are physically based concepts incorporating turbulent motion, spatial variability, and water clarity offering new approaches to characterize light exposure in aquatic environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:54:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47448c913e024696947efab3509854b3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-2242 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:54:41Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-47448c913e024696947efab3509854b32024-03-18T07:59:57ZengWileyLimnology and Oceanography Letters2378-22422024-04-019212813410.1002/lol2.10365A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceansJohn R. Gardner0Martin W. Doyle1Scott H. Ensign2David M. Kahler3Department of Geology and Environmental Science University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USANicholas School of the Environment Duke University Durham North Carolina USAStroud Water Research Center Avondale Pennsylvania USADuquense University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USAAbstract Vertical motion is an important driver of sunlight exposure in aquatic environments, shaping the growth and fate of materials and organisms. We derive a simple model accounting for turbulent depth fluctuations of particles to predict the depth that contributes the most sunlight exposure (effective depth) as well as the single depth that, if measured at one place over time, produces the same total sunlight exposure as a moving particle (functional depth). Field measurements of light and depth in rivers using neutrally buoyant drifters and buoys validate our model. Effective depth varied from 0.1 to 1.5 m below the water surface and was ~ 30% of the overall water depth on average. Functional depth varied from 0.67 to 2.3 m and was ~ 50% of the overall water depth on average. Functional and effective depth are physically based concepts incorporating turbulent motion, spatial variability, and water clarity offering new approaches to characterize light exposure in aquatic environments.https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10365 |
| spellingShingle | John R. Gardner Martin W. Doyle Scott H. Ensign David M. Kahler A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans Limnology and Oceanography Letters |
| title | A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans |
| title_full | A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans |
| title_fullStr | A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans |
| title_full_unstemmed | A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans |
| title_short | A new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers, lakes, and oceans |
| title_sort | new metric for sunlight exposure in rivers lakes and oceans |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10365 |
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