Abstract
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.
Highlights
Multiple scattering may be a significant source of systematic errors when measuring the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of particle-rich natural waters [1,2]
Measurements by the LISST-volume scattering function (VSF) are compared with single-scattering theoretical values computed from Mie theory, and simulation results from the Monte Carlo algorithm
We have demonstrated that the errors originating from multiple scattering in the LISST-VSF measurements can be significant for large optical depths, which largely explains in situ LISST-VSF measurement artifacts seen in turbid waters measurements
Summary
Multiple scattering may be a significant source of systematic errors when measuring the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of particle-rich natural waters [1,2]. The assumption of single scattering, where each photon is only scattered once, is an important approximation when measuring the VSF or other IOPs, as this negates the use of extensive radiative transfer calculations. This assumption will no longer be valid if the amount of multiple scattering is too high. In a study by Chami et al [8], it was found through radiative transfer modeling that multiple scattering may contribute to as much as ∼ 94% of the radiance reflectance when the ratio of backscattering to absorption is larger than 0.3
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