Inherent optical properties and biogeochemical data were sampled in the near-surface layer of the Fitzroy Estuary and Keppel Bay system in tropical Australia during the dry season. The dataset includes continuous spectral absorption, scattering, and backscattering coefficients, plus discrete measurements of phytoplankton, nonalgal particles, colored dissolved organic matter absorption, and concentrations of pigments and suspended matter. It was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au, with a last update timestamp of 2026-06-17.
Use Cases
- Calibrating remote sensing algorithms based on measured spectral absorption and scattering coefficients.
- Modeling biogeochemical dynamics based on concentrations of phytoplankton pigments and suspended matter.
- Analyzing spatial variability in water optical properties from estuary to ocean based on the described continuum.
- Studying tidal influence on coastal water properties based on sampling across the tidal phase.
Strengths
- Includes continuous and discrete measurements of multiple inherent optical properties (IOPs).
- Spatial sampling covers an estuary-coast-ocean continuum, capturing a large variability in properties.
- Temporal sampling across the semidiurnal tidal phase is described.
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Data collection is limited to the dry season; temporal coverage is not year-round.
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au
- Collection Method
- Field sampling of biogeochemical and inherent optical properties in the near-surface layer.
- Time Range
- Dry season (specific years unknown)
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-06-17 01:58:45.999614; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- Fitzroy Estuary and Keppel Bay system, tropical Australia