Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.

The absorption coefficient of a substance distributed as discrete particles in suspension is less than that of the same material dissolved uniformly in a medium-a phenomenon commonly referred to as the flattening effect. The decrease in the absorption coefficient owing to flattening effect depends o...

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Main Authors: Roy, S, Sathyendranath, S, Platt, T
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Roy, S
Sathyendranath, S
Platt, T
author_facet Roy, S
Sathyendranath, S
Platt, T
author_sort Roy, S
collection OXFORD
description The absorption coefficient of a substance distributed as discrete particles in suspension is less than that of the same material dissolved uniformly in a medium-a phenomenon commonly referred to as the flattening effect. The decrease in the absorption coefficient owing to flattening effect depends on the concentration of the absorbing pigment inside the particle, the specific absorption coefficient of the pigment within the particle, and on the diameter of the particle, if the particles are assumed to be spherical. For phytoplankton cells in the ocean, with diameters ranging from less than 1 µm to more than 100 µm, the flattening effect is variable, and sometimes pronounced, as has been well documented in the literature. Here, we demonstrate how the in vivo absorption coefficient of phytoplankton cells per unit concentration of its major pigment, chlorophyll a, can be used to determine the average cell size of the phytoplankton population. Sensitivity analyses are carried out to evaluate the errors in the estimated diameter owing to potential errors in the model assumptions. Cell sizes computed for field samples using the model are compared qualitatively with indirect estimates of size classes derived from high performance liquid chromatography data. Also, the results are compared quantitatively against measurements of cell size in laboratory cultures. The method developed is easy-to-apply as an operational tool for in situ observations, and has the potential for application to remote sensing of ocean colour data.
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spelling oxford-uuid:71c1003c-ef36-498f-97db-c04bf9d4b6272022-03-26T19:45:32ZRetrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:71c1003c-ef36-498f-97db-c04bf9d4b627EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Roy, SSathyendranath, SPlatt, TThe absorption coefficient of a substance distributed as discrete particles in suspension is less than that of the same material dissolved uniformly in a medium-a phenomenon commonly referred to as the flattening effect. The decrease in the absorption coefficient owing to flattening effect depends on the concentration of the absorbing pigment inside the particle, the specific absorption coefficient of the pigment within the particle, and on the diameter of the particle, if the particles are assumed to be spherical. For phytoplankton cells in the ocean, with diameters ranging from less than 1 µm to more than 100 µm, the flattening effect is variable, and sometimes pronounced, as has been well documented in the literature. Here, we demonstrate how the in vivo absorption coefficient of phytoplankton cells per unit concentration of its major pigment, chlorophyll a, can be used to determine the average cell size of the phytoplankton population. Sensitivity analyses are carried out to evaluate the errors in the estimated diameter owing to potential errors in the model assumptions. Cell sizes computed for field samples using the model are compared qualitatively with indirect estimates of size classes derived from high performance liquid chromatography data. Also, the results are compared quantitatively against measurements of cell size in laboratory cultures. The method developed is easy-to-apply as an operational tool for in situ observations, and has the potential for application to remote sensing of ocean colour data.
spellingShingle Roy, S
Sathyendranath, S
Platt, T
Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title_full Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title_fullStr Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title_full_unstemmed Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title_short Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications.
title_sort retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio optical measurements theory and applications
work_keys_str_mv AT roys retrievalofphytoplanktonsizefrombioopticalmeasurementstheoryandapplications
AT sathyendranaths retrievalofphytoplanktonsizefrombioopticalmeasurementstheoryandapplications
AT plattt retrievalofphytoplanktonsizefrombioopticalmeasurementstheoryandapplications