For a particle population with known size, composition, structure, and shape distributions, its volume scattering function (VSF) can be estimated from first principles through a governing relationship, the Fredholm linear integral equation of the first kind. Inverting the Fredholm equation to derive the composition and size distribution of particles from measured VSFs remains challenging because 1) the solution depends on the kernel function, and 2) the kernel function needs to be constructed to avoid singularity. In this study, a thorough review of the earlier and current inversion techniques is provided. An inversion method based on nonnegative least squares is presented and evaluated using the VSFs measured by a prototype volume scattering meter at the LEO-15 site off the New Jersey coast. The kernel function was built by a compilation of individual subpopulations, each of which follows a lognormal size distribution and whose characteristic size and refractive index altogether cover the entire ranges of natural variability of potential marine particles of the region. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the kernel function being constructed is neither singular nor pathological. A total of 126 potential subpopulations were identified, among which 11 are common in more than half of the inversions and only five consistently present ( $>90\%$ of measurements). These five subpopulations can be interpreted as small colloidal type particles of sizes around $0.02\mathrm{\mu m}$ , submicrometer detritus-type particles ( $n_r=1.02$ , $r_{\text{mode}}=0.2\mathrm{\mu m}$ ), two micrometer-sized subpopulations with one relatively soft ( $n_r=1.04$ and $r_{\text{mode}}=1.6\mathrm{\mu m}$ ) and the other relatively refringent ( $n_r=1.10$ and $r_{\text{mode}}=3.2\mathrm{\mu m}$ ), and bubbles of relatively large sizes ( $n_r=0.75$ and $r_{\text{mode}}=10\mathrm{\mu m}$ ). Reconstructed PSDs feature a bimodal shape, with the smaller peak dominated by the colloidal subpopulations and the larger particles closely approximated by a power-law function. The Junge-type slope averages $-4.0\pm 0.2$ , in close agreement with the well-known mean value of $-4.0$ over the global ocean. The distribution of the refractive index suggested a dominance of particles of higher water content, also in agreement with earlier results based on the backscattering ratio and attenuation coefficients at the same area. Surprisingly, the colloidal-type subpopulations, which have often been operationally classified as “dissolved” and neglected for their scattering, exhibit significant backscattering with contributions of up to 40% over the entire backward angles.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Relative Importance of Multiple Scattering by Air Molecules and Aerosols in Forming the Atmospheric Path Radiance in the Visible and Near-Infrared Parts of the Spectrum (AO)
• Treatment of Polarization in Laser Remote Sensing of Ocean Water (AO)
• Remote Sensing of Oligotrophic Waters: Model Divergence at Low Chlorophyll Concentrations (AO)
• Polarization effects on oceanographic lidar (OE)
• Biogeo-optics: particle optical properties and the partitioning of the spectral scattering coefficient of ocean waters (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Study on Dirty Bubbles of Volumetric Scattering Function in Ship Wakes
• A First Attempt to Assess Marine Particles Composition from Femote Sensing: Exploitation of the POLDER Polarized Radiances
• Multi-Instrument Data Assimilation Techniques for Sea Surface Temperatures and Sea State
• Technological Developments in Harmful Algal Bloom Detection Using Aircraft Ocean Color Remote Sensing
• Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of the Coastal Environment