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Measurements of light absorption coefficients by particles suspended in seawater (ap (λ)), by phytoplankton (aph(λ)) and detritus (ad (λ)) were carried out in the Baltic Sea waters. Measurements were performed for the original (unfiltered) seawater samples and the four selected size fractions: pico-particles with diameters (0.2–2 μm), ultra-particles with diameters (2–5 μm), nano-particles with diameters (5–20 μm) and micro-particles (20–200 μm). Chlorophyll a (Chla) concentrations and total suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations were determined. The proportions of particles from the size classes (micro, nano, ultra and pico) in the total light absorption by particles, phytoplankton and detritus were determined. Particles with sizes < 5 μm (i.e. pico and ultra-particles) had the largest contribution to the total particles absorption – an average of 38 % and 31 %. Particles of 5–20 μm accounted for approximately 20 % of all particles and phytoplankton and 29 % of the detritus. The contribution of large particles > 20 µm averaged 5–10 %. The average chlorophyll-specific and mass-specific light absorption coefficients, i.e. light absorption coefficients normalized to Chla and to SPM concentration, were determined for all size fractions. The determined average chlorophyll-specific light absorption coefficients ap(Chla)(λ), ad(Chla)(λ) and aph(Chla)(λ), along with standard deviations, do not allow clear separation of the individual fractions. For mass-specific light absorption coefficients, ap(SPM)(λ), ad(SPM)(λ) and aph(SPM)(λ), it is possible to distinguish between large particle fractions (microplankton – 20–200 μm) and small and medium particle fractions (0.2–20 μm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents approximate formulas for parameterizing the coefficient of light absorption by phytoplankton aph (λ) in Baltic Sea surface waters. Over a thousand absorption spectra (in the 350-750 nm range), recorded during nine years of research carried out in different months of the year and in various regions of the southern and central Baltic, were used to derive these parameterizations. The analysed empirical material was characterized by a wide range of variability: the total chlorophyll a concentration (Tchla) varied between 0.3 and > 140 mg m-3, the ratio of the sum of all accessory pigment concentrations to chlorophyll a (ΣCi/Tchla) varied between 0.21 and 1.5, and the absorption coefficients aph (λ) at individual light wavelengths varied over almost three orders of magnitude. Different versions of the parameterization formulas were derived on the basis of the data gathered: a one-component parameterization in the "classic" form of a power function with Tchla as the only variable, and a two-component formula - the product of the power and exponential functions, with Tchla and ΣCi/Tchla as variables. There were distinct differences between the general version of the one-component parameterization and its variants developed for individual months of the year. In contrast to the general parameterization, both the monthly and the two-component variants enable, at least partially, the variability of pigment composition occurring throughout the year in the Baltic phytoplankton populations examined here to be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the transformations and source of chromophoric dissolved organic matter including its role in heating ocean surface.