The physical, biological, chemical, and optical
processes of the ocean operate on a wide
variety of spatial and temporal scales, from
seconds to decades and from micrometers to
thousands of kilometers (Dickey et al., this
issue; Dickey, 1991). These processes drive
the accumulation and loss of living and nonliving
mass...
A multispectral optical sensor collects data at select wavebands or channels. An example is the Sea-viewing Wide-Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ocean color satellite, which measures eight wavebands between 402 and 885 nm (20-40 nm bandwidth with peaks centered around 412, 443, 490, 510, 555, 670, 765, and 865 nm). Optical oceanographers...
Spectral attenuation and absorption coefficients of particulate matter and collocated hydrographic measurements were obtained in the Mid-Atlantic Bight during the fall of 1996 and the spring of 1997 as part of the Coastal Mixing and Optics experiment. Within the bottom boundary layer (BBL) the magnitude of the beam attenuation decreased...
Hydrological optics has a rich history, playing a significant role in physical, chemical, and biological oceanography. The success over the last 30 years has provided oceanographers with a non-invasive means to study regional and global scale physical, chemical, and biological processes (Figure 1). The ability to map the color of...
Optical variability occurs in the near-surface and upper ocean on very short time and space scales (e.g., milliseconds and millimeters and less) as well as greater scales. This variability is caused by solar, meteorological, and other physical forcing as well as biological and chemical processes that affect optical properties and...
A sequence of three internal solitary waves of
elevation were observed propagating shoreward along a
near-bottom density interface over Oregon’s continental
shelf. These waves are highly turbulent and coincide with
enhanced optical backscatter, consistent with increased
suspended sediments in the bottom boundary layer. Nonlinear
solitary wave solutions are employed to...
Nitrate concentrations, chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence, radiance, salinity, and
temperature were measured on the Hawaii Air-Sea Logging Experiment, A Long-Term
Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment (HALE ALOHA) mooring located near the Hawaii
Ocean Time-Series (HOT) Program’s Station ALOHA (22°45’N; 158°W). Nitrate
concentrations were determined with OsmoAnalyzers deployed at depths of 120...
A new instrument package for measuring physical (temperature, salinity, and depth) as well as optical (absorption and attenuation at nine wavelength) parameters using SCUBA is described. The package is attached to the SCUBA bottle and allows for sampling very close to the sediment–water and water–air interfaces. This package can also...
Two methods to alleviate the problem of fouling of moored flow tube optical instruments are presented. A chemical method diffuses a concentrated solution of bromine into the flow tube between sampling periods, creating a toxic environment for microorganisms. An optical method removes a baseline value from the red peak of...