Revisiting Independent versus Dependent Scattering Regimes in Suspensions or Aggregates of Spherical Particles

•Scattering by non-absorbing bispheres and particle suspensions and aggregates was studied systematically.•A wide range of size parameter, refractive index, and interparticle distance-to-wavelength ratio was explored.•New transition criteria between independent/dependent scattering regimes were established.•The scattering cross-section and asymmetry factor feature different transition criteria.•Criteria for bispheres cannot be extended to suspensions and aggregates of small particles.