Effect of algae and water on water color shift

Abstract

This study showed that the combined effect of absorption of planktonic algae and water on water color shift can be simulated approximately by the exponential function: Log(E 100cm +E 100cm ch1 )=0.002λ−2.5 whereE 100 cm ,E 100cm chl are, respectively, extinction coefficients of seawater and chlorophyll—a (concentration is equal toX mg/m3), and λ (nm) is wavelength. This empirical regression equation is very useful for forecasting the relation between water color and biomass in water not affected by terrigenous material. The main factor affecting water color shift in the ocean should be the absorption of blue light by planktonic algae.