Marine Optics

Since the publication of Jerlov's classic volume on optical oceanography in 1968, the ability to predict or model the submarine light field, given measurements of the inherent optical properties of the ocean, has improved to the point that model fields are very close to measured fields. In the last three decades, remote sensing capabilities have fostered powerful models that can be inverted to estimate the inherent optical properties closely related to substances important for understanding global biological productivity, environmental quality, and most nearshore geophysical processes. This volume presents an eclectic blend of information on the theories, experiments, and instrumentation that now characterize the ways in which optical oceanography is studied. Through the course of this interdisciplinary work, the reader is led from the physical concepts of radiative transfer to the experimental techniques used in the lab and at sea, to process-oriented discussions of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for oceanic optical variability. The text will be of interest to researchers and students in physical and biological oceanography, biology, geophysics, limnology, atmospheric optics, and remote sensing of ocean and global climate change.

Optical Oceanography

Optical Remote Sensing is one of the main technologies used in sea surface monitoring. Optical Remote Sensing of Ocean Hydrodynamics investigates and demonstrates capabilities of optical remote sensing technology for enhanced observations and detection of ocean environments. It provides extensive knowledge of physical principles and capabilities of optical observations of the oceans at high spatial resolution, 1-4m, and on the observations of surface wave hydrodynamic processes. It also describes the implementation of spectral-statistical and fusion algorithms for analyses of multispectral optical databases and establishes physics-based criteria for detection of complex wave phenomena and hydrodynamic disturbances including assessment and management of optical databases. This book explains the physical principles of high-resolution optical imagery of the ocean surface, discusses for the first time the capabilities of observing hydrodynamic processes and events, and emphasizes the integration of optical measurements and enhanced data analysis. It also covers both the assessment and the interpretation of dynamic multispectral optical databases and includes applications for advanced studies and nonacoustic detection. This book is an invaluable resource for researches, industry professionals, engineers, and students working on cross-disciplinary problems in ocean hydrodynamics, optical remote sensing of the ocean and sea surface remote sensing. Readers in the fields of geosciences and remote sensing, applied physics, oceanography, satellite observation technology, and optical engineering will learn the theory and practice of optical interactions with the ocean.

Since the publication of Jerlov's classic volume on optical oceanography in 1968, the ability to predict or model the submarine light field, given measurements of the inherent optical properties of the ocean, has improved to the point that model fields are very close to measured fields. In the last three decades, remote sensing capabilities have fostered powerful models that can be inverted to estimate the inherent optical properties closely related to substances important for understanding global biological productivity, environmental quality, and most nearshore geophysical processes. This volume presents an eclectic blend of information on the theories, experiments, and instrumentation that now characterize the ways in which optical oceanography is studied. Through the course of this interdisciplinary work, the reader is led from the physical concepts of radiative transfer to the experimental techniques used in the lab and at sea, to process-oriented discussions of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for oceanic optical variability. The text will be of interest to researchers and students in physical and biological oceanography, biology, geophysics, limnology, atmospheric optics, and remote sensing of ocean and global climate change.

Contents: Reflection and refraction of light at the sea surface: theory and experiment, Radiance distribution below the sea surface, Apercu sur les theories du transfert radiatif applicables a la propagation dans la mer, Energie solaire et thermocline saisonniere, Facteurs physiques chimiques et biologiques affectant la propagation de la lumiere dans les eaux de mer, Refractive index fluctuations in sea water, Variation of optical sea parameters with depth, Diffusion de la lumiere par les eaux de mer. resultats experimentaux et approche theorique, Theory of small angle scattering, Experimental results of small scattering, Factors affecting long range vision, Criteria for vision: resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and contrast, Medium and system transform functions, Sources: arc, flash, incandescent and laser lamps, Receivers: photoelectronic and photographic detectors, Underwater lenses and optical ports, Long range vision techniques, Spatial filtering and image restoration, FORTRAN algorithms for underwater optics.