Articles | Volume 22, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-633-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/npg-22-633-2015
Research article
 | 
22 Oct 2015
Research article |  | 22 Oct 2015

Intermittent particle dynamics in marine coastal waters

P. R. Renosh, F. G. Schmitt, and H. Loisel

Abstract. Marine coastal processes are highly variable over different space scales and timescales. In this paper we analyse the intermittency properties of particle size distribution (PSD) recorded every second using a LISST instrument (Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry). The particle concentrations have been recorded over 32 size classes from 2.5 to 500 μm, at 1 Hz resolution. Such information is used to estimate at each time step the hyperbolic slope of the particle size distribution, and to consider its dynamics. Shannon entropy, as an indicator of the randomness, is estimated at each time step and its dynamics is analysed. Furthermore, particles are separated into four classes according to their size, and the intermittent properties of these classes are considered. The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is used, associated with arbitrary-order Hilbert spectral analysis (AHSA), in order to retrieve scaling multifractal moment functions, for scales from 10 s to 8 min. The intermittent properties of two other indicators of particle concentration are also considered in the same range of scales: the total volume concentration Cvol-total and the particulate beam attenuation coefficient cp(670). Both show quite similar intermittent dynamics and are characterised by the same exponents. Globally we find here negative Hurst exponents (meaning the small scales show larger fluctuation than large scales) for each time series considered, and nonlinear moment functions.

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Short summary
Intermittent dynamics of particle size distribution in coastal waters is studied. Particle sizes are separated into four size classes: silt, fine, coarse and macro particles. The time series of each size class is derived, and their multiscaling properties studied. Similar analysis has been done for suspended particulate matter and total volume concentration. All quantities display a nonlinear moment function and a negative Hurst scaling exponent.