This study explores second‐order variability of inherent optical properties (IOPs) of particles caused by particle intrinsic attributes, including the mean particle size ( D A ) calculated by a LISST measurement restricted to a size range of 2.5–500 μ m, mean apparent density ( ρ a ), bulk refractive index ( ñ p ), and composition (using a ratio of chlorophyll a to total suspended matter concentrations, Chl a /TSM, as the dele...