This means that a small concentration of these particles can do a lot for the absorption rates of the water they are suspended in. The smaller particles can also have this effect, but their concentrations need to be proportionately higher to exact this same influence. The smaller particles are more influential as far as backscattering is concerned, and represent a massive shift in the way that scientists think about light diffusion and backscattering within the ocean. Previously, scientists thought that only the larger of these particles combined with other particulates were responsible for most of the solar radiation absorption (Bricaud, a., Morel, a. And Prieur, L., 1981). Now scientists understand that in shallow, mineral-rich waters, even a small presence of these tiniest of colloids will change the way in which ocean water reacts to sun light.
Colloidal compounds, which make up the abundance of the suspended compound matter within ocean water, are understood to have a great affect on the absorption of solar radiation and light. The presence of these particles does vary seasonally as well as regionally, with the vast majority of the concentration occurring near the equator during the summer and winter months (Stramski and Woz'niak, 2005). This shows the further vulnerability of the scientific models to seasonal variations and cycles. While the depths at which these particulates exist, as well as the forced changes to the ocean water's composition through environmental and man-made influences has a significant effect on the existence of these particulates, the ocean's own, natural cycles and variations tend to play a larger role in the dynamics of these substances.
The "Clearest" Natural Waters: Some Characteristics and Anomalies
The clearest, must pure natural ocean water has some very interesting characteristics and commonalities around the world, wherever it is found. In one study involving the optical backscattering and diffusion qualities of ocean waters, scientists took samples from several locations in the southeast Pacific. These locations had some very interesting commonalities, yet they were far enough away from each other to not be dismissed or regarded as anomalies. Scientists found that the clearest waters, regardless of the mineral and organic compounds associated with the sample areas, were found at a very specific depth. This, according to the scientists, has a little to do with salinity and a lot to do with the water pressures and solubility of some of the important, diffusion and backscattering-influencing particles (Twardowski, M.S., H. Claustre, S.A. Freeman, D. Stramski, and Y. Huot., 2007). This means that the ocean has a natural symbiosis that exists at a specific depth, and that if small changes to the particulate concentrations at these levels are made, the results could be quite striking.
The depths at which these samples yielded the highest levels of purity were between 300 and 350 m, and the locations ranged from 23.5 degrees S, 118 degrees W. To 26 degrees S, 114 degrees W, where total backscattering at 650 nm was not distinguishable from pure seawater (Twardowski, M.S., H. Claustre, S.A. Freeman, D. Stramski, and Y. Huot., 2007). Within this area, the commonalities in the sea water were striking, and also resulted in other scientific discoveries. The study suggests that these waters all had similar mineral and diffusion characteristics, stating that, "The particulate backscattering ratio typically ranged between 0.4% and 0.6% at 650 nm through the majority of the central gyre from the surface to _210 m, indicative of "soft" water-filled particles with low bulk refractive index." (Twardowski, M.S., H. Claustre, S.A. Freeman, D. Stramski, and Y. Huot., 2007). This is significant because it shows that the ocean water, within these sample areas, had purity commonalities and anomalies that do not exist anywhere else in surrounding areas.
The presence of the single-celled algae coccolithophorid created some very specific purity and diffusion properties within these sample areas, suggesting that the ocean's natural balance of this organic compound is essential in maintaining water purity and specific optical quality within these regions. Interestingly, the Twardowski, M.S., H. Claustre, S.A. Freeman, D. Stramski, and Y. Huot study states, "showed a distinct secondary deeper layer centered at 230m that was absent in particulate attenuation sample data. The particulate backscattering ratio was significantly higher in this layer than in the rest of the water column, reaching 1.2% in some locations. This high relative backscattering, along with the pigment composition and ecological niche of this layer, appear to be consistent with the coccolithophorid concentrations." (Twardowski, M.S., H. Claustre, S.A. Freeman, D. Stramski, and Y. Huot., 2007). This shows that ocean water particulate matter,...
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