Variability in the volume scattering function (VSF) in the Irish Sea

The near-forward (0.05-10°) VSF has been measured during 8 cruises over a 2-year period in the Irish Sea. The VSF was measured with a LISST-100 and the cruises covered all seasons and spanned stratified as well as un-stratified areas of the Irish Sea. Here we report on the temporal and spatial variability of the shape of the VSF. Using a range of statistical grouping techniques it can be argued that, in reality, only a handful of different shapes of the VSF exists in the Irish Sea, each of which is found under different hydrodynamic conditions.