Wave boundary layer over a stone-covered bed

This paper summarizes the results of an experimental investigation on wave boundary layers over a bed with large roughness, simulating stone/rock/armour block cover on the sea bottom. The roughness elements used in the experiments were stones the size of 1.4cm and 3.85cm in one group of experiments and regular ping-pong balls the size 3.6cm in the other. The orbital-motion-amplitude-to-roughness ratio at the bed was rather small, in the range a/k_s = 0.6–3. The mean and turbulence properties of the boundary-layer flow were measured. Various configurations of the roughness elements were used in the ping-pong ball experiments to study the influence of packing pattern, packing density, number of layers and surface roughness of the roughness elements. The results show that the friction factor seems to be not extremely sensitive to these factors. The results also show that the friction factor for small values of the parameter a/k_s does not seem to tend to a constant value as a/k_s → 0 (contrary to the suggestion made by some previous investigators). The present friction-factor data indicates that the friction factor constantly increases with decreasing a/k_s. An empirical expression is given for the friction factor for small values of a/k_s. The results further show that the phase lead of the bed friction velocity over the surface elevation does not seem to change radically with a/k_s, and found to be in the range 12°–23°. Furthermore the results show that the boundary-layer turbulence also is not extremely sensitive to the packing pattern, the packing density, the number of layers and the surface roughness of the roughness elements. There exists a steady streaming near the bed in the direction of wave propagation, in agreement with the existing work. The present data indicate that the steady streaming is markedly smaller in the case where the ping-pong balls are aligned at 45° to the wave direction than in the case with 90° alignment. Likewise, it is found that the steady streaming is relatively smaller in the case of the one-layer ping-pong-ball roughness than in the case of the two-layer situation.     

Stable isotope constraints on the nitrogen cycle of the Mediterranean Sea water column

We used the nitrogen isotope ratio of algae, suspended particles and nitrate in the water column to track spatial variations in the marine nitrogen cycle in the Mediterranean Sea. Surface PON (5–74 m) was more depleted in ¹⁵N in the eastern basin (−0.3±0.5‰) than in the western basin (+2.4±1.4‰), suggesting that nitrogen supplied by biological N₂ fixation may be an important source of new nitrogen in the eastern basin, where preformed nitrate from the Atlantic Ocean could have been depleted during its transit eastward. The δ¹⁵N of nitrate in the deep Mediterranean (∼3‰ in the western-most Mediterranean and decreasing toward the east) is significantly lower than nitrate at similar depths from the North Atlantic (4.8–5‰), also suggesting an important role for N₂ fixation. The eastward decrease in the δ¹⁵N of surface PON is greater than the eastward decrease in the δ¹⁵N of the subsurface nitrate, implying that the amount of N₂ fixation in the eastern Mediterranean is great enough to cause a major divergence in the δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton biomass from the δ¹⁵N of the nitrate upwelled from below. Variations in productivity associated with frontal processes, including shoaling of the nitracline, did not lead to detectable variations in the δ¹⁵N of PON. This indicates that no differential fertilization or productivity gradient occurred in the Almerian/Oran area. Our results are consistent with a lack of gradient in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) and nitrate concentration in the Alboran Sea. ¹⁵N enrichment in particles below 500 m depth was detected in the Alboran Sea with respect to surface PON, reaching an average value of +7.4±0.7‰. The δ¹⁵N in sinking particles caught at 100 m depth (4.9–5.6‰) was intermediate between suspended surface and suspended deep particles. We found a consistent difference in the isotopic composition of nitrogen in PON compared with that of chlorophyll (Δδ¹⁵N[PON-chlorin]=+6.4±1.4‰) in the surface, similar to the offset reported earlier in cultures for cellular N and chl-a. This indicates that δ¹⁵N of phytoplankton biomass was retained in surface PON, and that alteration of the isotopic signal of PON at depth was due to heterotrophic activity.     

Evaluation of two WAM white capping parameterizations using parallel unstructured SWAN with application to the Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA

The performance of two well accepted formulations for white capping and wind input of third generation wave models, viz., WAM-3 and WAM-4, were investigated using parallel unstructured SWAN (PunSWAN). Several alternative formulations were also considered to evaluate the effects of higher order steepness and wave number terms in white capping formulations. Distinct model configurations were calibrated and validated against available in situ measurements from the Gulf of Mexico. The results showed that some of the in situ calibrated models outperform the saturation level calibrated models in reproducing the idealized wave growth curves. The simulation results also revealed that increasing the power of the steepness term can enhance the accuracy of significant wave height (H_s), at the expense of a higher bias for large waves. It also has negative effects on mean wave period (T_a) and peak wave period (T_p). It is also demonstrated that the use of the quadratic wave number term in the WAM-3 formulation, instead of the existing linear term, ameliorates the T_a underestimation; however, it results in the model being unable to reach any saturation level. In addition, unlike H_s and T_p, it has been shown that T_a is sensitive to the use of the higher order WAM-4 formulation, and the bias is decreased over a wide range of wave periods. However, it also increases the scatter index (SI) of simulated T_a. It is concluded that the use of the WAM-4 wind input formulation in conjunction with the WAM-3 dissipation form, is the most successful case in reproducing idealized wave growth curves while avoiding T_a underestimation of WAM-3 and a potential spurious bimodal spectrum of WAM-4; consequently, this designates another perspective to improve the overall performance of third generation wave models.     

Effect of bed roughness on turbulent boundary layer and net sediment transport under asymmetric waves

This paper presents an investigation of the roughness effects in the turbulent boundary layer for asymmetric waves by using the baseline (BSL) k–ω model. This model is validated by a set of the experimental data with different wave non-linearity index, N_i (namely, N_i = 0.67, N_i = 0.60 and N_i = 0.58). It is further used to simulate asymmetric wave velocity flows with several values of the roughness parameter (a_m/k_s) which increase gradually, namely from a_m/k_s = 35 to a_m/k_s = 963. The effect of the roughness tends to increase the turbulent kinetic energy and to decrease the mean velocity distribution in the inner boundary layer, whereas in the outer boundary layer, the roughness alters the turbulent kinetic energy and the mean velocity distribution is relatively unaffected. A new simple calculation method of bottom shear stress based on incorporating velocity and acceleration terms is proposed and applied into the calculation of the rate of bed-load transport induced by asymmetric waves. And further, the effect of bed roughness on the bottom shear stress and bed-load sediment transport under asymmetric waves is examined with the turbulent model, the newly proposed method, and the existing calculation method. It is found that the higher roughness elements increase the magnitude of bottom shear stress along a wave cycle and consequently, the potential net sediment transport rate. Moreover, the wave non-linearity also shows a big impact on the bottom shear stress and the net sediment transport.     

Determination of the zinc complexing capacity in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry of zinc—APDC complex ions

A novel technique to determine complexing capacities for zinc is presented. The free zinc concentration is determined by cathodic stripping voltammetry preceded by adsorptive collection of complexes of zinc with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC). The reduction peak of zinc is depressed as a result of ligand competition by natural organic material in the sample. Sufficient time is allowed to reach equilibrium between this material and added APDC, and equilibrium is maintained during the measurement. Both electrochemically reversible and irreversible complexes can therefore be investigated. Values for K_ZnAPDC^′ are calibrated against NTA and EDTA in seawater of several salinities; log K_ZnAPDC^′ was found to be 4.40 at 36‰, 4.36 at 24‰, 4.43 at 12‰, and 4.87 at 2.3‰. The ligand concentration and conditional stability constant, K_ZnL^′, for complexing ligands in a sample from the Irish Sea were determined in the presence of 4 × 10^?5 M APDC and with added zinc concentrations between 5 × 10^?9 and 3 × 10^?7 M. The data best fitted a complexation model containing two ligands with concentrations of 2.6 and 6.2 and 10^?8 M, and with values for log K_ZnL^′ of 8.4 and 7.5, respectively. These results are comparable to those obtained with other equilibrium techniques, but the values of the constants are greater than those from ASV measurements.     

Fluid circulation and formation of minerals and bitumens in the sedimentary rocks of the Outer Carpathians – Based on studies on the quartz–calcite–organic matter association

Different methods have been used to examine minerals and/or solid bitumens in three adjacent Carpathian regions of Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia. The minerals fill smaller and larger veins and cavities, where they occur either together or separately. They usually co-occur with the solid bitumens. All δ¹³C_PDB values measured for calcite lie in a relatively wide interval between −6.25‰ and +1.54‰, while most values fall into the narrower interval from below 0 to about −3‰. The general range of calcite δ¹⁸O results for the whole studied region is between +17.13‰ and +25.23‰ VSMOW or from about −11 to −5‰ VPDB, while the majority of these values are between +20.0 and 23.5‰ VSMOW (−10.53 and −8.00‰ PDB, respectively). δ¹⁸O_VSMOW results for quartz vary between +23.2 and 27.6. The carbonate percentage determined in some samples falls between from <2% CaCO₃ to >90% CaCO₃, while the TOC values changes from 0.09% to over 70%.The aliphatic fraction predominates in all studied samples, mainly in bitumens and oils. The composition of the aliphatic fraction is relatively homogeneous and points to a strong aliphatic, oil-like paraffin character of the bitumens. Such a composition is characteristic of the Carpathian oils and different from the rocks studied that contain the higher percentage of a polar fraction. The content of the aliphatic fraction in bitumens is only slightly higher than that in two oils used for comparison. The distribution of n-alkanes is variable in rocks, solid bitumens as well as inclusions in quartz and calcite. Two groups of bitumens may be distinguished. Those with a predominance of long-chain n-alkanes in the C₂₅–C₂₇ interval (in some cases from C₂₃–C₂₅ and without or with a very low concentration of short-chain n-alkanes in the interval of C₁₄–C₂₁) show also a high content of isoprenoids i.e. of pristane (Pr) and phytane (Ph). In all but one bitumen samples, Pr predominates over Ph. The second group comprises oils and rock samples with a characteristic predominance of short-chain n-alkanes in the interval from C₁₃–C₁₉ and a low percentage of the long-chain n-alkanes from the n-C₂₇–n-C₃₃ interval. Pristane and phytane exhibit a concentration comparable to that of C₁₇ and C₁₈ n-alkanes with a Pr predominance over Ph. Due to high maturity, only small amounts of the most stable compounds from the hopane group have been observed in the samples, also oleanane in one case. Among the aromatic hydrocarbons, phenanthrene and its methyl- and dimethyl-derivatives are dominant in bitumens, source rocks and inclusions in calcite and quartz. Occurrence of cyclohexylbenzene and its alkyl-derivatives as well as cyclohexylfluorenes in solid bitumens suggest that they formed from oil accumulations under the influence of relatively high temperatures in oxidizing conditions.Homogenization temperatures for aqueous/brine inclusions in quartz within the Dukla and Silesian units (Polish and Ukrainian segments) are between 125 and 183.9 °C, while salinities are low in the interval of 0.2–5.5 wt% NaCl eq. The inclusions in calcite homogenize at higher temperatures of almost 200 °C and the brine displays higher salinity than the fluid in the quartz. Two quartz generations may be distinguished by inclusion and isotope characteristics and the macroscopic diversity. Oil inclusions homogenize at 95 °C. One phase inclusions in quartz contain methane, CO₂ and nitrogen in variable proportions.     

Tropospheric lapse rate and its relation to surface temperature from reanalysis data

Estimates of the tropospheric lapse rate γ and analysis of its relation to the surface temperature T _s in the annual cycle and interannual variability have been made using the global monthly mean data of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis (1948–2001). The tropospheric lapse rate γ is about 6.1 K/km in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) as a whole and over the ocean and about 6.2 K/km over the continents. The value of γ decreases from 6.5 K/km at low latitudes to 4.5 K/km at polar latitudes. The values of dγ/dT _s, the parameter of sensitivity of γ to the variation of T _s for the NH in the interannual variability, are found to be about 0.04 km^?1 (0.041 km^?1 for the NH as a whole, 0.042 km^?1 over the ocean, and 0.038 km^?1 over the continents). This corresponds to an increase in γ of approximately 0.7% when the surface temperature of the NH is increased by 1 K. Estimates of dγ/dT _s vary from about 0.05 km^?1 in the subtropics to 0.10 km^?1 at polar latitudes. When dγ/dT _s is positive, the surface and tropospheric warming means a temperature decrease above a certain critical level H _cr. The height of the level H _cr with constant temperature, which is defined by the inverse value (dγ/dT _s)^?1, is about 25 km for the NH as a whole, i.e., above the tropopause. In the subtropics, H _cr is about 20 km. At polar latitudes, H _cr decreases to about 10 km. Positive values of dγ/dT _s characterize a positive climatic feedback through the lapse rate and indicate a general decrease in the static stability of the troposphere during global warming. Along with a general tendency of γ to increase with rising T _s, there are regional regimes with the opposite tendency, mainly over the ocean. The negative correlation of γ with T _s is found over the oceanic tropics and midlatitudes, in particular, over the oceanic belt around Antarctica.     

An energy approach to non-breaking wave-induced motion of bottom sediment particles

A general equation, which applies to incipient motion, general surface motion and disappearance of ripples under non-breaking water waves, is derived using an energy approach. Lower and upper limits of ripple development are derived, showing that existing criteria are not entirely sufficient. An explicit formula for the dissipation factor as a function of D/A (grain diameter near-bed wave amplitude) is also obtained. The formula has been used to evaluate the variation of f_e with increasing flow characteristics for constant grain diameter. Finally, values of the sand grain roughness height, k_s, in relation to grain diameter are given for different types of bottom motion.     

Discussion of “Analytic solution of long wave propagation over a submerged hump” by Niu and Yu (2011)

Recently, Niu and Yu (2011) presented an analytical solution of the long wave refraction by a submerged circular hump. The geometry of the hump was assumed to be axi-symmetric and the water depth over the hump region was described by a positive constant plus a power function of the radial distance with an arbitrary value of the power exponent, i.e., h = h₁ + βr^s, where h₁ is the water depth at the crest of the hump. Their general hump is an extension of the paraboloidal hump (i.e., s = 2) studied by Zhang and Zhu (1994) and Zhu and Harun (2009). Because of this extension in the topography of the hump, the problem to seek a general analytical solution to the long-wave equation becomes much more complicated and the solution technique need to be more skillful, especially for the case with the exponent s being a rational, see Eq. (17) in Niu and Yu (2011).     

X-波段雷达近海海浪频谱反演的神经网络模型

X-波段雷达作为国内海浪观测的一种新工具,在海浪频谱获取和有效波高反演方面仍存在较多问题.本文利用非线性回归方法,将现场实测浮标数据频谱和雷达一维图像谱分别与标准频谱模型进行拟合,发现浮标频谱和一维图像谱具有标准频谱的特征,能够较准确地获取相应的谱参数.提出了建立由雷达一维图像谱参数反演海浪频谱参数的神经网络模型,同时在模型中加入影像序列信噪比,进而反演有效波高,并将反演结果与现场实测数据和传统算法(建立影像序列信噪比与有效波高之间的线性回归方程)进行了对比,结果表明,获取谱参数的误差和反演有效波高的平均误差在20％以内,而传统算法计算有效波高平均误差在20％以上.     

A test of the ADV-based Reynolds flux method for in situ estimation of sediment settling velocity in a muddy estuary

Under conditions common in muddy coastal and estuarine environments, acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) can serve to estimate sediment settling velocity (w _s) by assuming a balance between upward turbulent Reynolds flux and downward gravitational settling. Advantages of this method include simple instrument deployment, lack of flow disturbance, and relative insensitivity to biofouling and water column stratification. Although this method is being used with increasing frequency in coastal and estuarine environments, to date it has received little direct ground truthing. This study compared in situ estimates of w _s inferred by a 5-MHz ADV to independent in situ observations from a high-definition video settling column over the course of a flood tide in the bottom boundary layer of the York River estuary, Virginia, USA. The ADV-based measurements were found to agree with those of the settling column when the current speed at about 40 cm above the bed was greater than about 20 cm/s. This corresponded to periods when the estimated magnitude of the settling term in the suspended sediment continuity equation was four or more times larger than the time rate of change of concentration. For ADV observations restricted to these conditions, ADV-based estimates of w _s (mean 0.48±0.04 mm/s) were highly consistent with those observed by the settling column (mean 0.45±0.02 mm/s). However, the ADV-based method for estimating w _s was sensitive to the prescribed concentration of the non-settling washload, C _wash. In an objective operational definition, C _wash can be set equal to the lowest suspended solids concentration observed around slack water.     

Prediction of safe sea-state using finite element method and artificial neural networks

This article proposes a predictive method for identifying the range of sea-states considered safe for the installation of offshore structures. A finite element dynamic analysis of the system for various sea-states characterized by significant wave heights and mean zero-up-crossing wave periods and modeled as a combination of several wave components has been performed. Using this procedure a table of safe and unsafe sea-states is generated. The significant wave height (H_s) and mean zero-up-crossing wave period (T_z) of a future sea-state in a location in the north east Pacific were predicted from the distributions whose parameters were estimated using the artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained for this purpose. The location of US National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) Buoy 46005 is used in this study.The H_s and T_z of some future sea-states were predicted from their corresponding conditional 7-parameter distribution given some information including a number of previously measured H_s’s and T_z’s. This gives a predicted sea-state for a specific time in future. The parameters of the distributions have been estimated from the outputs of two different 7-network sets of trained ANNs. A pile-driving operation is used as a case study in which the pile configuration, including the non-linear foundation and the gap between the pile and the pile sleeve shims, has been modeled by the finite elements method and the range of sea-states suitable for safe pile-driving operation was identified.     

Sources of δ15N variability in sinking particulate nitrogen in the Cariaco Basin,Venezuela

Ten years of monthly observations of the δ¹⁵N of sinking particulate nitrogen (δ¹⁵N–PN (in ‰ versus atmospheric N₂)=[(¹⁵N/¹⁴N)_sample/(¹⁵N/¹⁴N)_standard)−1]1000) in the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela, confirm that the basin's bottom sediments store information about nitrogen dynamics related to seasonal and interannual variability in regional surface ocean processes. During the upwelling period of the southern Caribbean Sea (February–April), the δ¹⁵N–PN is similar to that of the thermocline nitrate (∼3.5‰). This nitrate is imported into the Cariaco Basin with Subtropical Underwater (SUW), which wells up near the coast. Thus, particles generated by phytoplankton photosynthesis during this productive period bear a sub-tropical North Atlantic isotopic imprint of N₂ fixation (low compared to the global average of nitrate δ¹⁵N≈5‰). During the non-upwelling period when surface waters are stratified (September–November), the δ¹⁵N–PN is also 3.5–4.0‰, and reflects a mixture of local N₂ fixation within the mixed layer, inputs of terrigenous organic matter and SUW nitrate consumption by phytoplankton below the mixed layer, which most likely exerts the strongest control on the δ¹⁵N–PN signal during this time. In the transition periods of May–July and December–January, the δ¹⁵N–PN increases to 4.5–6.5‰. This coincides with maxima of continental material fluxes (terrestrial PON δ¹⁵N is >6‰) into the Cariaco Basin. The δ¹⁵N signal in the sediments of the Cariaco Basin thus provides information about the relative strength of the local coastal upwelling, the relative input of continental material via river runoff, and local N₂ fixation. The findings contribute to interpretations of the basin's paleoclimatic nitrogen cycle variations based on observations of the sedimentary δ¹⁵N record at this location.     

Phytoplankton community adaptation to changing light levels in the southern Beaufort Sea,Canadian Arctic

The chlorophyll a specific absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, a_φ^∗(λ) is an important parameter to determine for primary production models and for the estimation of phytoplankton physiological condition. Knowledge of this parameter at high latitudes where nutrient rich cold water submitted to low incident light is a common environment is almost nonexistent. To address this issue, we investigated the light absorption properties of phytoplankton as a function of irradiance, temperature, and nutrients using a large data set in the southern Beaufort Sea during the open water to ice cover transition period. The a_φ^∗(λ) tended to increase from autumn when open water still existed to early winter when sea ice cover was formed, resulting from a biological selection of smaller-size phytoplankton more efficient to absorb light. There was no significant correlation between a_φ^∗(λ) and irradiance or temperature for both seasons. However, a_φ^∗(λ) showed a significant positive correlation with NO₃ + NO₂. Implications of the results for phytoplankton community adaptation to changing light levels are discussed.     

酸化过程对不同碳酸钙含量的海洋沉积物中总氮及其同位素分析的影响

为节约成本和样品,一些学者同时分析海洋沉积物中的碳、氮及其同位素（TOC、TN、δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N）。分析沉积物中的δ¹³C,需要对样品进行酸化去除无机碳,但是这一酸化过程会使TN和δ¹⁵N的分析结果产生偏差,且偏差范围与沉积物中无机碳含量（CaCO₃）有关。本研究选取了低CaCO₃含量（1-16%）和高CaCO₃含量（20-40%）的海洋沉积物样品,比较了酸化过程对TN和δ¹⁵N的影响。研究结果表明,酸化过程对海洋沉积物中TN和δ¹⁵N的分析结果产生了显著影响。对于低CaCO₃含量的样品,酸化导致样品中TN流失了约0-40%,δ¹⁵N偏移了约0-2‰;而对于高CaCO₃含量的样品,酸化导致样品中TN流失了约10-60%,δ¹⁵N偏移了约1-14‰。表明酸化对TN和δ¹⁵N的影响已经超过了仪器的误差范围0.002%（TN）和0.08‰（δ¹⁵N）,将影响TN和δ¹⁵N的环境指示意义。因此,即使海洋沉积物样品中CaCO₃含量很低,也必须用原样分析TN和δ¹⁵N以避免酸化过程的影响。     

A new formula for saturated water steam pressure within the temperature range −25 to 220°C

Instead of approximation formula ln(E(t)/E(0)) = [(a ? bt)t/(c + T)] commonly used at present for representing dependence of pressure of saturated streams of liquid water E upon temperature we suggested new approximation formula of greater accuracy in the form ln(E(t)/E(0)) = [(A ? Bt + Ct ²)t/T], where t and T are temperature in °C and K respectively. For this formula with parameters A = 19.846, B = 8.97 × 10^?3, C = 1.248 × 10^?5 and E(0) = 6.1121 GPa with ITS-90 temperature scale and for temperature range from 0°C to 110°C relative difference of approximation applying six parameter formula by W. Wagner and A. Pruß 2002, developed for positive temperatures, is less than 0.005%, that is approximately 15 times less than accuracy obtained with the firs formula. Increase of temperature range results in relative difference increasing, but for even temperature range from 0°C to 220°C it does not higher than 0.1%. For negative temperatures relative difference between our formula and a formula of D. M. Murphy and T. Koop, 2005, is less than 0.1% for temperatures higher than ?25°C. This paper also presents values of coefficients for approximation of Goff and Grach formula recommended by IMO. The procedure of finding dew point T _d for known water steam pressure e _n based on our formula adds up to solving an algebraic equation of a third degree, which coefficients are presented in this paper. For simplifying this procedure this paper also includes approximation ratio applying a coefficient A noted above, in the form T _d (e _n ) = \(\frac{{AT_0 }}{{A - \varepsilon }}\) + 0.0866?² + 0.0116?^10/3, where ? = ln(e _n /E(T ₀)). Error of dew point recovery in this ratio is less than 0.005 K within the range from 0 to 50°C.     

Internal solitary waves shoaling onto a shelf: Comparisons of weakly-nonlinear and fully nonlinear models for hyperbolic-tangent stratifications

In this study the evolution of internal solitary waves shoaling onto a shelf is considered. The results of high resolution two-dimensional numerical simulations of the incompressible Euler equations are compared with the predictions of several weakly-nonlinear shoaling models of the Korteweg–de Vries family including the Gardner equation and the cubic regularized long wave (or Benjamin–Bona–Mahoney) equation. Wave models in both physical x–t space and in s–x space are considered where s is a commonly used characteristic time variable. The effects of rotation, background currents and damping are ignored. The Boussinesq and rigid lid approximations are also used. The shoaling internal solitary waves generally fission into several waves. Reflected waves are negligible in the cases considered here. Several hyperbolic tangent stratifications are considered with and without a critical point. Among the equations in x–t space the cubic regularized long wave equation gives the best predictions. The Gardner equation in s–x space gives the best predictions of the shape of the leading waves on the shelf, but for many stratifications it predicts a propagation speed that is too large.     

Partitioning particulate absorption coefficient into contributions of phytoplankton and nonalgal particles: A case study in the northern South China Sea

We measured the absorption coefficients of suspended particles (a_p(λ)) during three cruises from coastal waters to open ocean in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). The absorption contributions of phytoplankton (a_ph(λ)) and nonalgal particles (a_NAP(λ)) were determined using the methanol extraction method. Based on the dataset of about 360 samples, we examined the spectral relationships of the particle absorption coefficients. The results show that a_p(λ) spectra are well linearly correlated with a_p(443) over the wavebands between 420–650 nm; a_ph(λ) could be well expressed as the second-order quadratic equations of a_ph(443) among the blue-green wavebands, and a_NAP(λ) follows the general exponential function. Based on these spectral relationships, a model was proposed for partitioning the total particulate absorption coefficients into the contributions of phytoplankton and nonalgal particles using the nonlinear optimization method. The model was validated by comparing the computed results with in situ absorption coefficients. In some wavebands, such as 412 nm, 443 nm, 490 nm and 683 nm, we obtained good correlations with the percentage root mean square error (RMSE) values being controlled within 25% and the slopes being closer to 1.0. For samples from coastal waters, the discrepancy was a little large, which might be due to the higher absorption contributions from certain pheopigments. Overall, this model provides us much insight into phytoplankton absorption retrieval from in situ measurements and remote sensing ocean color data.