Two separate time series observations of light transmission in the bottom water on the Continential Rise off Nova Scotia show fluctuations of light transmission in a wide range, 0--50% transmission at λ=660 nm. The range corresponds approximately to SPM concentrations of 12 mg/l to 150 μg/l. The former is the maximum value determined by filtration (Biscaye, 1980), and the latter is determined by an empirical relation between beam attenuation coefficient and particle volume determined by a particle counter. Nepheloid layers of significant turbidity, called benthic storms, were observed in 30 and 10% of the time, respectively, for the two observations, and each storm lasted 2--5 days. High frequency fluctuations represented by pulse lengths less than 10 min were observed superimposed on the low frequency fluctuations during 16 and 4% of the time. Both the major storms and the high frequency pulses are interpreted to be a result of resuspension of bottom sediments at varying distances from the instrument: the high frequency pulses are thought to be a result of erosion at a relatively short distance, while the low frequency fluctuations result from erosion at greater distance.