Inherent Optical Properties in a Tropical Macrotidal Coastal System

Spatial and tidal variability of inherent optical properties in the Fitzroy Estuary and Keppel Bay system during the dry season. The dataset includes continuous spectral absorption, scattering, and backscattering measurements, plus discrete samples for phytoplankton, nonalgal particles, and colored dissolved organic matter. Collected by the Australian Ocean Data Network, the data shows particle scattering decreasing by 2 orders of magnitude from estuary to bay.

Use Cases

• Calibrating remote sensing algorithms for turbid coastal waters based on spectral absorption and scattering coefficients.
• Modeling the impact of semidiurnal tides on biogeochemical distributions based on tidal-phase sampling.
• Analyzing the relationship between suspended matter and specific particle scattering across an estuary-ocean gradient.
• Studying phytoplankton community dynamics using chlorophyll-specific absorption and pigment concentration data.

Strengths

• Includes continuous spectral measurements of absorption, scattering, and backscattering coefficients.
• Captures data across strong spatial gradients, with some properties varying by 2-3 orders of magnitude.
• Sampling design incorporates both spatial transects and temporal variation across tidal phases.

Limitations

• Data collection is limited to the dry season; seasonal variability is not captured.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

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 2026-06-23 02:07:49.164538; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Fitzroy Estuary and Keppel Bay, tropical Australia.