title: Variability in optical particle backscattering in contrasting bio‐optical oceanic regimes
abstract: Variability in the optical particle backscattering coefficient (b bp ) is investigated in oceanic waters from two sites, namely the BOUée pour l'acquiSition d'une Série Optique à Long termE site in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and the Plumes and Blooms stations in the Santa Barbara Channel off Southern California. Data from these two sites span two orders of magnitude in b bp and likely cover typical open ocean values. A significant relationship is found between b bp at wavelengths of 442 
journal: Limnology and Oceanography