The determination of the index of refraction distribution of oceanic particulates

Abstract

A method is described for determining the index of refraction distribution and the particle size distribution of suspended particles. The distributions are obtained by breaking down an observed volume scattering function into its contributing components. The component scattering functions are calculated using Mie theory. The component functions include all size distributions and indices of refraction that can be expected to be present. The method was applied to a volume scattering function observed in the Sargasso Sea. Forty components were used with five different indices of refraction and eight different particle size distributions. The resultant index of refraction distribution was bimodal. Components with indices of 1.05 and 1.15 dominate the calculated volume scattering function. The calculated particle size distribution falls within experimentally determined limits for the size distribution.