Characterizations of the light-scattering attributes of mineral particles in Lake Ontario and the effects of whiting

► A two-component approach applied to model particulate scattering in Lake Ontario. ► Mineral particle scattering modeled through single particle analysis and Mie theory. ► Organic particle scattering estimated by chlorophyll-a-based bio-optical models. ► Reasonably good closure achieved between modeling results and bulk measurements. ► Summer whiting events were facilitated by organic particles serving as nuclei.