Two component mie scattering models of sargasso sea particles.

The volume scattering function is calculated for particle suspensions consisting of two components systematically distributed in a manner consistent with Coulter Counter observations in the Sargasso Sea. The components are assigned refractive indices 1.01-0.01i and 1.15 to represent organic and inorganic particles, respectively. The only models found that reproduce observed scattering functions require a considerable fraction of the suspended particle volume to be organic in nature. This fraction, however, contributes less than 10% to the total scattering function. The model finally chosen indicates that the inorganic particles smaller than 2.5 micro do not occur in large enough concentrations to have a significant effect on the volume scattering function.