Influence of the Composition of Suspended Matter on the Secchi Disk Depth

Resumo

Concentrations of total suspended matter and its coarse and fine fractions in surface waters were determined based on the measurements of the light scattering phase function in the Atlantic tropical area. At the same time, the Secchi disk depth (Z_d) was measured. The correlations between the total concentration of the suspended matter C_TSM, including its coarse and fine fractions, and the Secchi disk depth are studied. It is ascertained that the main factor determining the Secchi disk depth in the Atlantic tropical area is the fine fraction of the suspended matter; its effect is theoretically analyzed.