Analysis of the particle size distribution and optical properties in the Korean seas

Abstract

The Particle Size Distribution (PSD) is the mathematical function that defines the number of particles according to size and has been widely used to characterize marine particles (Buonassissi and Dierssen, 2010). The PSD can aidin the comprehension of phytoplankton community dynamics and sediment transport (Slade and Boss, 2015). Based on theoretical derivation (assuming nonabsorbing spherical particle), the exponent of the PSD (ξ) and the exponent of the particulate attenuation spectrum (the hyperbolic exponent, γ) as a function of wavelength are linearly related (Boss et al., 2001). Here, we conduct (1) the measurement of the PSD using Coulter counter analysis in laboratory and (2) post-processing of AC-S raw data with correcting the effects of temperature and salinity. Field measurements of the PSD and inherent optical properties (IOP) which includes absorption, scattering and attenuation were carried out in 2015 near East/Japan sea and Yellow sea. According to previous studies, (3) we derive relationship between the PSD slope (ξ) and particulate attenuation slope (γ) and then analyze the results. the comprehension of phytoplankton community dynamics and sediment transport (Slade and Boss, 2015). Based on theoretical derivation (assuming nonabsorbing spherical particle), the exponent of the PSD (ξ) and the exponent of the particulate attenuation spectrum (the hyperbolic exponent, γ) as a function of wavelength are linearly related (Boss et al., 2001). Here, we conduct (1) the measurement of the PSD using Coulter counter analysis in laboratory and (2) post-processing of AC-S raw data with correcting the effects of temperature and salinity. Field measurements of the PSD and inherent optical properties (IOP) which includes absorption, scattering and attenuation were carried out in 2015 near East/Japan sea and Yellow sea. According to previous studies, (3) we derive relationship between the PSD slope (ξ) and particulate attenuation slope (γ) and then analyze the results.