L4 Surface CDOM
The absorption coefficient of coloured dissolved organic material (aCDOM(λ)) is measured on seawater samples filtered through 0.2 &mu m Whatman Nuclepore membrane filters from 250 to 850 nm in 10 cm quartz cuvettes, relative to a bi-distilled MilliQ reference blank. aCDOM(λ) was calculated from the optical density of the sample and the cuvette path length. These data contribute to a suite of inherent optical properties that are used for satellite algorithm validation and development and to assess DOM related processes in the Western English Channel. To use the data set please contact Dr. Gavin Tilstone (ghti-at-pml.ac.uk). The figure below shows the inter- and intra-annual variability in surface aCDOM(442) at L4 from 2003 to 2009. The solid line is the average aCDOM(442) over this six year period, which highlights peaks in the data during spring and autumn phytoplankton blooms and during winter related to freshwater input from the River Tamar.
