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| Absorption (of light) coefficient of water: Data sources | Prev topic | Next topic Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 |
| Table 1. Experimental data on the absorption (of light) coefficient of water (H2O). Some of the data referred to in this table are shown for a range of 10-2 to 107 µm (Fig. 1), ~0.2 to 1 µm (Fig. 2), and 1 to 100 µm (Fig. 3). The data on the absorption of light by this substance vary widely in the region of the absorption minimum in the visible (Fig. 2). This variability depends mostly on the purification method and remains a hotly disputed topic (for example, note b). The results obtained by using the transmission method generally contain an unspecified contribution from light scattering (Fig. 2). Please see the composite data in the visible and near infrared part of the spectrum (0.200-0.700 µm and 0.380-0.800 µm) suggested by two recent comprehensive monographs. See index entries (absorption of light, coefficient, of, water) for related topics and references not included in this note, as well as http://omlc.ogi.edu/spectra/water/index.html for additional references and independently transcribed data files. Abbreviations and symbols: ND - no data. |
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| Wavelength, λ, µm |
Temperature, °C |
Measurement or derivation method |
Purification method | Data file | Reference |
| 0.010-107 (10nm-10m) |
25-30 | complex refractive index a |
ND | get data | Querry MR et al 1991 w |
| 0.186-0.500 | 23 | transmission | single-distilled g | get data (0.186-0.205 µm) |
Romanov NP and Shuklin 1985 |
| 0.196-0.320 | 25 | transmission | quadruple-distilled, deoxygenated f | get data p | Quickenden TI and Irvin 1980 |
| 0.200-0.690 | ND | transmission | double-distilled | get data | Dawson LH and Hulburt 1934 |
| 0.200-0.700 | varies | composite data l, o |
ND | get data | Woźniak et al 2005 m |
| 0.200-0.800 | ND | ND | ND | get data | Smith RC and Baker 1981 j, r1, v, v1 |
| 0.200-200.0 | ~25 i | complex refractive index h |
varies | get data | Hale GM and Querry 1973 |
| 0.200-200.0 | varies | composite data a1 |
varies | get data | Irvine WM and Pollack 1968 |
| 0.220-0.400 | ND | transmission | double-distilled | get data | Lenoble J and Saint-Guilly 1955 |
| 0.254-0.578 | ND | transmission t | filtration & distillation u |
get data | Boivin LP et al 1986 |
| 0.254-0.612 | ND | transmission | quadruple-distilled | get data | Hulburt 1928 |
| 0.300-0.700 | 25.1 | transmission | quadruple- distilled f |
get data p, q |
Litjens RAJ et al 1999 b |
| 0.300-0.800 | 2.5-40.5 | absorption meter c |
reverse osmosis and distillation | get data (20°C) | Buiteveld H et al 1994 s |
| 0.310-0.650 | ND | transmission b1 | distilled | get data | Sawyer WR 1931 |
| 0.340-0.640 | 25 | PDS | Millipore Milli-Q | get data | Sogandares FM and Fry 1997 r2 |
| 0.365-0.800 | ND z | transmission x | distillation y | get data | James HR and Birge 1938 z1 |
| 0.380-0.725 | 22 | ICAM | reagent-grade | get data | Pope RM and Fry 1997 r3 |
| 0.380-0.800 | varies | composite data n, o |
ND | get data | Jonasz M and Fournier 2007, p. 77 |
| 0.390-0.600 | ND | ND | ND | get data | Kopelevich OV and Filippov 1994 |
| 0.4186-0.6403 | 26.4 | split-pulse transmission k | deionized filtered water d |
get data | Querry MR et al 1978 |
| 0.400-0.790 | 23 | transmission | triple-distilled | get data | Sullivan SA 1963 j |
| 0.446-0.694 | 21.5 | photoacoustic | double-distilled | get data | Tam AC and Patel 1979 |
| 0.667-2.500 | 22 | transmission | freshly distilled water | get data | Kou L et al. 1993 r4 |
| 0.8-2.3 c1 | ND | transmission c2 | ND | get data | Collins JR 1922 |
| 2-50,000 (2µm - 5cm) |
25 | reflectance e | ND | get data | Zolotarev VM and Demin 1977 |
| 2.33-33.33 |
ND | transmission | ND | get data | Robertson CW and Williams 1971 |
| a - results of a compilation of the imaginary part of the refractive index data were used to derive the real part by using Kramers-Krönig analysis [back to table at Querry 1991, menu] a1 - the data have been compiled (interpolated) by the data authors (Irvine WM and Pollack 1968) from various sources in the following wavelength ranges: 0.2 to 0.65 µm: Dorsey 1940, 0.7 to 2.35 µm: Curcio JA and Petty 1951, 2.40 to 2.65 µm: Collins JR 1939, 2.70 to 3.75 µm: Kondratyev KY et al 1963, 4.00 to 7.5 µm: Fox JJ and Martin 1940, 8 to 10 µm: Plyler EK and Acquista (1954), 10.5 to 12 µm: Draegert DA et al 1966, 12.5 to 16 µm: Centeno VM 1941, 17.5 to 20 µm: interpolated between the values of Draegert DA et al 1966 and Centeno VM 1941, 25 to 200 µm: Draegert DA et al 1966 [back to table at Irvine 1968, menu] b - see also a comment by Fry ES 2000a, comparing the data of Pope RM and Fry 1997 (PF1997) with the present data, a response by Quickenden TI et al 2000, the reply by Fry ES 2000b. The error envelope provided by Litjens RAJ et al 1999 suggest that their data (L+1999), oscillating vs. the wavelength of light, are nevertheless consistent with those of PF1997 in a wavelength range of less than 0.38 µm, despite the different measurement methods used. As seen in Fig. 2, the data of L+1999 run systematically higher than PF1997 data in the wavelength range of 0.39-0.47 µm, and in most cases even above the data of Smith RC and Baker 1981, derived from data for the clearest natural waters (see also note v). The oscillations in L+1999 data in the 0.55-0.70 µm region are claimed by the data authors to represent the overtones and combination tones of the stretching mode of the OH bond. In the UV-blue transition range, these data are consistent with those of Quickenden TI and Irvin 1980. [back to table at Litjens 1999, menu] b1 - double-path, pathlength of up to 5 m, paraffin-lined water tubes [back to table at Sawyer 1931, menu] c - custom submersible absorption meter (Hakvoort JHM 1994) [back to table at Buiteveld 1994, menu] c1 - tabulated data are only available for four wavelengths corresponding to the absorption maxima in that range [back to table at Collins 1922, menu] c2 - double-path transmission measurements, two spectrographs in series to reduce stray light, sample thickness varied from 2 cm at 0.8-1.1 µm, to 0.025 cm at 1.7-2.3 µm [back to table at Collins 1922, menu] d - the sample was sealed in the cell for 180 days. Extended storage of clean water was found to increase contamination by leaching compounds from the storage container (see water, pure, degradation on storage) [back to table at Querry 1978, menu] e - reflectance and attenuated total reflectance coupled with Fresnel and Kramers-Krönig analysis [back to table at Zolotarev 1977, menu] f - quadruple distillation of water, in a specially constructed installation, was followed by combustion at ~600°C of the organic substances remaining after the distillation and the removal of the dissolved oxygen. The combustion of organics was suggested by Fry ES (2000b) to be the source of additional contamination due to an extended contact of the sample with the container at high temperature (see also water, pure, degradation on storage). [back to table at Litjens 1999, back to table at Quickenden 1980, menu] g - single distillation, using commercial distillation unit, from a hot water sample containing KMnO4. These data run lower than those of Quickenden TI and Irvin 1980. [back to table at Romanov 1985, menu] h - the imaginary part, m", of the refractive index (m = m' - im") was obtained by the data authors by manually smoothing a graph of m"(λ), where λ is the wavelength of light, obtained from refractive index data or calculated from light absorption data of other researchers. The real part, m', of the refractive index was obtained by the data authors via subtractive Kramers-Krönig analysis of the imaginary part of the refractive index. [back to table at Hale 1973, menu] i - temperature varies across the data set collected by Hale GM and Querry 1973, most data are for a temperature of about 25 °C [back to table at Hale 1973, menu] j - data of Sullivan SA 1963 are included into the average on which the data of Smith RC and Baker 1981 are based [back to table at Smith 1981, back to table at Sullivan 1963, menu] k - the split-pulse method, as used by Querry MR et al 1978 essentially a differential (two different pathlength) transmission method [back to table at Querry 1978, menu] l - 0.200–0.335 µm: Smith RC and Baker 1981; 0.340–0.370 µm: Sogandares F M and Fry 1997; 0.380–0.700 µm: Pope RM and Fry 1997 [back to table at Woźniak 2005, menu] m - see also Woźniak and Dera 2007, p. 62 [back to table at Woźniak 2005, menu] n - 0.380-0.7275 µm: Pope RM and Fry 1997; 0.7275-0.8000 µm: Kou L et al 1993 [back to table at Jonasz 2007, menu] o - these data share the core of Pope RM and Fry 1997 data [back to table at Woźniak 2005, back to table at Jonasz 2007, menu] p - the data file, as available on-line before 17 December 2007, contained the log10-based instead of ln-based absorption coefficient. The data file available after that date contains the ln-based absorption coefficient. [back to table at Litjens 1999, back to table at Quickenden 1980, menu] q - the data of Litjens RAJ et al 1999, as shown in Fig. 2, were modified for presentation in the log scale as follows: if the original data were negative, an average of the preceding and following data was used. This process was repeated until no negative absoorption coefficient values were left. The data file contains both the original and modified data. [back to table at Litjens 1999, menu] r1 - suggested by Woźniak and Dera 2007 and by Woźniak et al 2005 in the wavelength range of 0.200-0.335 µm, see also Woźniak's et al data summary [back to table at Smith 1981, menu] r2 - suggested by Woźniak and Dera 2007 and by Woźniak et al 2005 in the wavelength range of 0.335-0.380 µm, see also Woźniak's et al data summary [back to table at Sogandares 1997, menu] r3 - referred to by Jonasz M and Fournier 2007 as the as the first data that are sufficiently accurate in the wavelength range of 0.380-0.7275 µm to show the combination vibrational modes of the water molecule, see also Jonasz and Fournier's data summary. These data have also been suggested by Woźniak and Dera 2007 and by Woźniak et al 2005 in the wavelength range of 0.380-0.700 µm (Woźniak's et al data summary). See also a critique of these data by Quickenden TI et al 2000 and a reply by Fry ES 2000b. [back to table at Pope 1997, menu] r4 - referred to by Jonasz M and Fournier 2007 as the first data that are sufficiently accurate in the wavelength range of 0.728-0.800 µm to show the combination vibrational modes of the water molecule, see also Jonasz and Fournier's data summary [back to table at Kou 1993, menu] s - 0.300-0.394 µm: Boivin LP et al 1986, 0.394-520 µm: Smith RC and Baker 1981, 0.520-0.604 µm: measurements by Buiteveld H et al 1994 which were shifted by 0.01 m-1 to agree with the data of Tam AC and Patel 1979; 0.604-0.800 µm: measurements by Buiteveld H et al 1994 [back to table at Buiteveld 1994, menu] t - a single-path transmission arrangement where the effect of the interfaces was corrected from the first principles. From their measurement arrangement it seems that the "absorption coefficient" they measured (Boivin LP et al 1985 refer to it as the attenuation coefficient) includes an unspecified contribution of light scattering. [back to table at Boivin 1986, menu] u - a commercial filtration-deionisation system containing a stage for removing organics, followed by a two-stage distillation over silica [back to table at Boivin 1986, menu] v - recent measurements in very clear waters of the Pacific Ocean (Morel A et al 2007) suggest that the absorption coefficient of the clearest natural waters is on the order of 0.006 m-1 at a wavelength of 0.42 µm [vs. 0.0153 m-1 derived by Smith RC and Baker 1981 (SB1981)] and 0.041 m-1 at 0.31 µm [vs. 0.105 m-1 derived by SB1981]. [back to table at Smith 1981, menu] v1 - Schwarz B et al (1990) obtained with a variable-path transmissometer very similar values of the attenuation coefficient, c [m-1], for deionized water distilled over quartz at a wavelength of 0.433 µm [0.019 vs. 0.0186 derived by Smith RC and Baker 1981 (SB1981)], 547 µm [0.068 vs. 0.0653 of SB1981], and 652 µm [0.344 vs. 0.3497 of SB1981]. [back to table at Smith 1981, menu] w - data of Segelstein DJ 1981 [back to table at Querry 1991, menu] x - a transmission meter using a sample and a reference cells with differing pathlengths. The tubular cells had the internal surface silvered. [back to table at James 1938, menu] y - distillation in a tin still [back to table at James 1938, menu] z - the "room temperature" is implied by the description of the measurement conditions by James HR and Birge (1938) [back to table at James 1938, menu] z1 - essentially the same results have been obtained by Clarke GL and James (1939) [back to table at James 1938, menu] |
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| CITATION: Jonasz M. 2006. Absorption coefficient of water: Data sources (www.tpdsci.com/Tpc/AbsCfOfWaterDat.php). In: Top. Part. Disp. Sci. (www.tpdsci.com). |
HISTORY: Published: 21-Nov-2007 Modified: 24-Mar-2008 Peer-reviewed: 19-Dec-2007 |
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