Near surface fluorescence and optical scattering profiles at CTD sampling stations, cruises DP03 and DP04 from January 2016 - December 2016

Optical absorption and scattering are the primary determinants of the flow of radiant energy in the ocean’s surface waters. Particles in the water are the principle source of scattering, and the scattering measurements can indicate the amount and/or type of particles present. While a complete measurement of the scattered light field is complex and cumbersome, a measurement of the backscattering at particular angles can usually be related to the total backscattering of light. The backscattering of light not only provides information about the particle present, it is important for understanding variations in Rrs. We measure backscattering in the water with either a 2 channel (700 & 532 nm at ~117°), 6 channel (442, 488, 532, 589, 620, 680 nm at ~140°), or 2 channel (420 & 700 nm) scattering meter. We synchronize this instrument with a chlorophyll and CDOM fluorometer, and lower them on an instrument frame through the upper portion of the water column to obtain vertical profiles of the in situ chl. and CDOM fluorescence, as well as the amount and spectral shape of the backscattering. These profiles will be made at the CTD sampling stations, but instrument constraints limited the depth of the profiles to <300 m. This data was collected during the same cruises as GRIIDC CTD datasets R4.x257.230:0011 (https://doi.org/10.7266/N7R49P43, R/V Point Sur cruise PS1622) and R4.x257.230:0012 (https://doi.org/10.7266/N7MC8XDC, R/V Point Sur cruise PS1703).