Influence of forward and multiple light scatter on the measurement of beam attenuation in highly scattering marine environments

Neural network approach for correction of multiple scattering errors in the LISST-VSF instrument

The LISST-VSF is a commercially developed instrument used to measure the volume scattering function (VSF) and attenuation coefficient in natural waters, which are important for remote sensing, environmental monitoring and underwater optical wireless communication. While the instrument has been shown to work well at relatively low particle concentration, previous studies have shown that the VSF obtained from the LISST-VSF instrument is heavily influenced by multiple scattering in turbid waters. High particle concentrations result in errors in the measured VSF, as well as the derived properties, such as the scattering coefficient and phase function, limiting the range at which the instrument can be used reliably. Here, we present a feedforward neural network approach for correcting this error, using only the measured VSF as input. The neural network is trained with a large dataset generated using Monte Carlo simulations of the LISST-VSF with scattering coefficients b=0.05-50m-1, and tested on VSFs from measurements with natural water samples. The results show that the neural network estimated VSF is very similar to the expected VSF without multiple scattering errors, both in angular shape and magnitude. One example showed that the error in the scattering coefficient was reduced from 103% to 5% for a benchtop measurement of natural water sample with expected b=10.6m-1. Hence, the neural network drastically reduces uncertainties in the VSF and derived properties resulting from measurements with the LISST-VSF in turbid waters.

Efficient Monte Carlo simulation reveals significant multiple scattering errors in underwater angular scattering measurements

Multiple scattering can severely affect the accuracy of optical instrumentation. Variance reduction methods have been implemented to improve a Monte Carlo model developed to simulate volume scattering functions measured by LISST-VSF instruments. The implemented methods can result in more than a tenfold increase in efficiency. The simulation is used to analyze multiple scattering errors for a range of Fournier-Forand (FF) phase functions. Our results demonstrate significant errors in the scattering coefficient, backscattering coefficient and phase function, where multiple scattering errors may only be considered negligible (<10%) for scattering coefficients <1 m^-1. The errors depend strongly on the scattering coefficient but also increase when phase functions become more forward-peaked.

Characterization of suspended particulate matter in contrasting coastal marine environments with angle-resolved polarized light scattering measurements

Optical proxies based on light scattering measurements have potential to improve the study and monitoring of aquatic environments. In this study, we evaluated several optical proxies for characterization of particle mass concentration, composition, and size distribution of suspended particulate matter from two contrasting coastal marine environments. We expanded upon our previous study of Southern California coastal waters, which generally contained high proportions of organic particles, by conducting angle-resolved polarized light scattering measurements in predominantly turbid and inorganic-particle dominated Arctic coastal waters near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. We observed that the particulate backscattering coefficient b_bp was the most effective proxy for the mass concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) when compared with particulate scattering and attenuation coefficients b_p and c_p. Improvements were seen with b_bp as a proxy for the concentration of particulate organic carbon (POC), although only if particulate assemblages were previously classified in terms of particle composition. We found that the ratio of polarized-light scattering measurements at 110º and 18º was superior in performance as a proxy for the composition parameter POC/SPM in comparison to the particulate backscattering ratio b_bp/b_p. The maximum value of the degree of linear polarization DoLP_p,max observed within the range of scattering angles 89°-106° was found to provide a reasonably good proxy for a particle size parameter (i.e., 90th percentile of particle volume distribution) which characterizes the proportions of small- and large-sized particles. These findings can inform the development of polarized light scattering sensors to enhance the capabilities of autonomous platforms.

Analysis of multiple scattering errors in LISST-VSF volume scattering function measurements using Monte Carlo simulations and experimental data

A Monte Carlo algorithm has been developed to investigate the effects of multiple scattering on the volume scattering function measured by the LISST-VSF instrument. The developed algorithm is compared to experimental results obtained from bench-top measurements using 508nm spherical polystyrene beads and Arizona test dust as scattering agents. The Monte Carlo simulation predicts measured volume scattering functions at all concentrations. We demonstrate that multiple scattered light can be a major contributor to the detected signal, resulting in errors in the measured volume scattering function and its derived inherent optical properties. We find a relative error of 10% in the scattering coefficient for optical depths ∼0.4, and it can reach 100% at optical depths ∼2.

Parallel Monte Carlo simulation algorithm for the spectral reflectance and transmittance of the wind-generated bubble layers in the upper ocean using CUDA

The parallel Monte Carlo software CUDAMCML used in the bio-optics field was developed by Erik Alerstam et al. (J. Biomed. Opt., 13, 060504, 2008) based on the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) and can simulate light transport in multilayered media. In the present study, CUDAMCML is extended to form the new program CUDAMCML-OCEAN using the average sampling method. This new program can handle multiple types of particle seawater containing elements such as colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and bubbles. The accuracy and speedup of the new program are analyzed. The results show that when the parameters are set appropriately, the speedup of CUDAMCML-OCEAN is more than 200 times compared with serial code. And the accuracies of the spectral reflectance and transmittance all reached a satisfactory level for different wind speeds and chlorophyll concentrations.

Improved transmission method for measuring the optical extinction coefficient of micro/nano particle suspensions

Extinction coefficients are fundamental for analyzing radiative transport in micro/nano particle suspensions. In the traditional transmission method for measuring the extinction coefficient of particles in a cuvette, a reference system is used to compensate for the influence of the cuvette and base fluid. However, the multiple reflections and refractions between the air-glass and liquid-glass interfaces cannot be sufficiently eliminated by using the reference system, and the induced measurement error increases significantly with increasing difference in refractive index between the two neighboring media at these interfaces. In this paper, an improved transmission method is proposed to measure the extinction coefficient of micro/nano particles. The extinction coefficient of the particles is determined based on an optical model, taking into account the multiple reflection and refraction at the glass-liquid interfaces. An experimental validation was conducted for suspensions with various mean particle sizes. By considering the higher-order transmission terms, the improved transmission method generally achieved high-accuracy improvement over the traditional transmission method for extinction coefficient measurement, especially for the case with a small optical thickness of particle suspensions. This work provides an alternative and more accurate way for measuring the extinction characteristics of micro/nano particle suspensions.

Optical closure in marine waters from in situ inherent optical property measurements

Optical closure using radiative transfer simulations can be used to determine the consistency of in situ measurements of inherent optical properties (IOPs) and radiometry. Three scattering corrections are applied to in situ absorption and attenuation profile data for a range of coastal and oceanic waters, but are found to have only very limited impact on subsequent closure attempts for these stations. Best-fit regressions on log-transformed measured and modelled downwards irradiance, Ed, and upwards radiance, Lu, profiles have median slopes between 0.92 - 1.24, revealing a tendency to underestimate Ed and Lu with depth. This is only partly explained by non-inclusion of fluorescence emission from CDOM and chlorophyll in the simulations. There are several stations where multiple volume scattering function related data processing steps perform poorly which suggests the potential existence of unresolved features in the modelling of the angular distribution of scattered photons. General optical closure therefore remains problematic, even though there are many cases in the data set where the match between measured and modelled radiometric data is within 25% RMS%E. These results are significant for applications that rely on optical closure e.g. assimilating ocean colour data into coupled physical-ecosystem models.

Uncertainties associated to measurements of inherent optical properties in natural waters

Monte Carlo simulations are used to explain and quantify the errors in inherent optical properties (IOPs) (absorption and attenuation coefficients) measured using the WET Labs AC-9 submarine spectrophotometer, and to assess correction algorithms. Simulated samples with a wide range of IOPs encountered in natural waters are examined. The relative errors on the measured absorption coefficient are in general lower than 25%, but reach up to 100% in highly scattering waters. Relative errors on attenuation and scattering coefficients are more stable, with an underestimation mainly driven by the volume scattering function. The errors in attenuation and scattering spectral shapes are small.

Role of measurement uncertainties in observed variability in the spectral backscattering ratio: a case study in mineral-rich coastal waters

The particulate backscattering ratio (b(bp)/b(p)) is a useful indicator of the angular scattering characteristics of natural waters. Recent studies have shown evidence both for and against significant spectral variability in b(bp)/b(p) in the visible domain, but most show significant variability in its magnitude. We present results from a case study in which both backscattering and scattering coefficients were measured at nine wavelengths in a region of UK coastal waters where optical scattering is strongly influenced by inorganic particles and where a wide range of turbidities is found in a small geographic area. Using a new approach based on regression analysis of in situ signals, it is shown that, for this study site, most of the apparent variability in the magnitude of the backscattering ratio can be attributed to measurement uncertainties. Regression analysis suggests that b(bp)/b(p) is wavelength dependent for these mineral-rich waters. This conclusion can only be avoided by positing the existence of undocumented, systematic, wavelength-dependent errors in backscattering measurements made by two independently calibrated sensors. These results are important for radiative transfer simulations in mineral-dominated waters where the backscattering ratio has often been assumed to be spectrally flat. Furthermore, spectral dependence also has profound implications for our understanding of the relationship between b(bp)/b(p) and particle size distributions in coastal waters since the commonly assumed power-law distribution is associated with a spectrally flat particulate backscattering ratio for nonabsorbing particles.

Small-scale effects of underwater bubble clouds on ocean reflectance: 3-D modeling results

We examined the effect of individual bubble clouds on remote-sensing reflectance of the ocean with a 3-D Monte Carlo model of radiative transfer. The concentrations and size distribution of bubbles were defined based on acoustical measurements of bubbles in the surface ocean. The light scattering properties of bubbles for various void fractions were calculated using Mie scattering theory. We show how the spatial pattern, magnitude, and spectral behavior of remote-sensing reflectance produced by modeled bubble clouds change due to variations in their geometric and optical properties as well as the background optical properties of the ambient water. We also determined that for realistic sizes of bubble clouds, a plane-parallel horizontally homogeneous geometry (1-D radiative transfer model) is inadequate for modeling water-leaving radiance above the cloud.

Scattering error corrections for in situ absorption and attenuation measurements

Monte Carlo simulations are used to establish a weighting function that describes the collection of angular scattering for the WETLabs AC-9 reflecting tube absorption meter. The equivalent weighting function for the AC-9 attenuation sensor is found to be well approximated by a binary step function with photons scattered between zero and the collection half-width angle contributing to the scattering error and photons scattered at larger angles making zero contribution. A new scattering error correction procedure is developed that accounts for scattering collection artifacts in both absorption and attenuation measurements. The new correction method does not assume zero absorption in the near infrared (NIR), does not assume a wavelength independent scattering phase function, but does require simultaneous measurements of spectrally matched particulate backscattering. The new method is based on an iterative approach that assumes that the scattering phase function can be adequately modeled from estimates of particulate backscattering ratio and Fournier-Forand phase functions. It is applied to sets of in situ data representative of clear ocean water, moderately turbid coastal water and highly turbid coastal water. Initial results suggest significantly higher levels of attenuation and absorption than those obtained using previously published scattering error correction procedures. Scattering signals from each correction procedure have similar magnitudes but significant differences in spectral distribution are observed.

Ocean color remote sensing: choosing the correct depth weighting function

Values of reflectance and remote sensing reflectance are proportional to the ratio of sea water backscattering to absorption. However, in vertically non-homogeneous waters, this fraction needs to be depth weighted. The usual practice uses normalized vertical transmittance profiles as the weighting function. Recently, it was shown that the correct approach is to use, instead of transmittance, its first derivative. We used both approaches to calculate spectral reflectance and remote sensing reflectance over a submerged bubble cloud and chlorophyll rich layer and compared the results with a radiative transfer Monte Carlo code. We also compared several methods of approximating diffuse attenuation (not measured directly) to estimate the effect on calculating reflectance. Our results show that the traditional method of IOP weighting is inadequate in the presence of bubble clouds and/or chlorophyll rich layers. This is relevant for both "ground truth" studies and inverse methods of remote sensing (including lidar ones) for vertically inhomogeneous ocean sea waters.

Role of minerogenic particles in light scattering in lakes and a river in central New York

The role of minerogenic particles in light scattering in several lakes and a river (total of ten sites) in central New York, which represent a robust range of scattering conditions, was evaluated based on an individual particle analysis technique of scanning electron microscopy interfaced with automated x-ray microanalysis and image analysis (SAX), in situ bulk measurements of particle scattering and backscattering coefficients (bp and bbp), and laboratory analyses of common indicators of scattering. SAX provided characterizations of the elemental x-ray composition, number concentration, particle size distribution (PSD), shape, and projected area concentration of minerogenic particles (PAVm) of sizes>0.4 microm. Mie theory was applied to calculate the minerogenic components of bp (bm) and bbp (bb,m) with SAX data. Differences in PAVm, associated primarily with clay minerals and CaCO3, were responsible for most of the measured differences in both bp and bbp across the study sites. Contributions of the specified minerogenic particle classes to bm were found to correspond approximately to their contributions to PAVm. The estimates of bm represented substantial fractions of bp, whereas those of bb,m were the dominant component of bbp. The representativeness of the estimates of bm and bb,m was supported by their consistency with the bulk measurements. Greater uncertainty prevails for the bb,m estimates than those for bm, associated primarily with reported deviations in particle shapes from sphericity. The PSDs were well represented by the "B" component of the two-component model or a three parameter generalized gamma distribution [Deep-Sea Res. Part I 40, 1459 (1993)]. The widely applied Junge (hyperbolic) function performed poorly in representing the PSDs and the size dependency of light scattering in these systems, by overrepresenting the concentrations of submicrometer particles especially. Submicrometer particles were not important contributors to bm or bb,m.