A preliminary study of spectral light attenuation and chlorophyll absorption and chlorophyll concentration in Kuala Terengganu coastal waters

Abstract

Chlorophyll a concentration, absorption and diffuse light attenuation coefficients (Kd) were measured at 30 stations m the Kuala Terengganu coastal water during October 2007. The sampling activities involved three types of measurements such as water sample collection, radiometric data collection and hydrographic measurement. The general distribution of chlorophyll-a showed high concentration near to the coastal area and this could be due to phytoplankton dominated out flowing freshwater from Terengganu estuary. The relationship between diffuse light attenuation coefficient (Kd) and the concentration of chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll absorption was test at different wavelengths. But all the wavelength does not significantly correlated with chlorophyll-a concentration and chlorophyll absorption. The RMS error between predicted and measured chlorophyll-a concentration and chlorophyll absorption has relatively low R 2 value. The absorption of diffuse light attenuation was directly proportional with chlorophyll-a absorption coefficient, phytoplankton dominated waters and chlorophyll-a concentration.