Optical Closure in Coastal Waters

Our scientific objectives encompass both empirical and theoretical investigations. Empirical objectives are: 1) develop new instruments and methods for measuring ocean-optical properties, 2) conduct systematic coastal ocean measurements for testing closure and for characterizing optical properties and the processes related to their changes, and 3) perform laboratory experiments to investigate optical propagation phenomena in a controlled environment. Theoretical objectives are: 1) develop spectral models for scattering by marine suspensions, 2) investigate second order and other approximations to the radiative transfer equation, and 3) develop the mathematics for better understanding and modeling long-path beam propagation and radiative transfer of submerged light sources. A final-year objective of this program was to assist in teaching the summer Ocean Optics course held at Friday Harbor, Washington.