Small-scale variability in suspended matter associated with the Connecticut River plume front

We report high spatial resolution observations of optical proxies for suspended particles and dissolved matter measured at the boundary of the Connecticut River plume (CRP) in Long Island Sound (LIS) in April 2000 when river discharge was near the annual maximum. The magnitude of beam attenuation, c(p), backscatter, b(b), and absorption at short wavelengths indicated higher concentration of suspended particles and colored dissolved matter within the LIS relative to the adjacent CRP. The fractional backscatter from particles indicated relatively higher organic matter fraction within the LIS. An absorption feature centered at 429 nm (a(PB)), indicated the presence of pigmented heterotrophic bacteria unique to the LIS and the strongest signals were observed at locations closest to shore. The spectral slope of beam attenuation associated with particulate matter (gamma) indicated the presence of relatively larger particle assemblages within the LIS. Strong linear relationships between gamma and salinity were observed within the energetic CRP boundary region, within 30 m of the front location. Regression residuals indicated a shift to smaller particles and were greatest at the front and decreased with distance toward the plume interior with a length scale similar to previous reports of the kinetic energy dissipation rate. At the same time, the magnitude of c(p) and b(b) remained uniform. These results are consistent with the disruption of low fractal dimension particle assemblages due to enhanced turbulence and mixing. The residuals in gamma were weakly correlated with salinity and a(PB) suggesting that aggregate disruption was primarily associated with entrained Long Island Sound water.