Robin van Tine

The teag^oral spectral light environment of shallow areas of the lower Chesapeake Bay was characterized by cosine collection of downwelllnq diffuse Irradianee at 12 wavelengths between 400 and 700 m. An extensive monthly and site coaawrison of spectral attenuation coef f icients Is presented and coaqxared with previous measurements of the light quality environment of the Chesapeake Bay and other estuaries and marine waters Spectral Irradtanee and attenuation of light In a mangrove creek and Thalassla te a tu d lnu m bed of Laguna de Termlrtos, Campeche, Wexlco and the ir relationships to wind-driven suspension of particulate matter, and dissolved substances from the mangrove swaap Is also discussed, A review of the physics of spectral attenuation in estuaries 1s included. Particular attention was given to the relationship between the occurence of seagrasses (Zostera marina mainly} 1n the Chesapeake Bay and spectral attenuation. Potential losses of photosynthetlcally storable radiati...