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...
Optical closure is essential for the determination of biogeochemical properties from ocean color remote sensing information. Mie scattering theory, a radiative transfer model, and a semi-analytical inversion algorithm were used to investigate the influence of particles and their properties on optical closure. Closure results were generally poor. Absorption coefficient (at)...
We review theoretical models to show that contrast reduction at a specific wavelength in the horizontal direction depends directly on the beam attenuation coefficient at that wavelength. If a black target is used, the inherent contrast is always negative unity, so that the visibility of a black target in the...
The dependence of the reflectance at the surface on the vertical structure of optical parameters is derived from first principles. It is shown that the depth dependence is a function of the derivative of the round trip attenuation of the downwelling and backscattered light. Previously the depth dependence was usually...
We report that the submerged microbubbles are an efficient source of diffuse radiance and may contribute to a rapid transition to the diffuse asymptotic regime. In this asymptotic regime an average cosine is easily predictable and measurable.
The inherent and apparent optical properties of different ocean regimes are the basis for all optical remote sensing of the ocean. Ecological information derived from remote sensors therefore relies on having a detailed understanding of how particulate backscattering and absorption contribute to the bulk optical signal. The absorption
characteristics of...
The Ocean Portable Hyperspectral Imager for Low-Light Spectroscopy (Ocean PHILLS) is a hyperspectral imager specifically designed for imaging the coastal ocean. It uses a thinned, backside-illuminated CCD for high sensitivity and an all-reflective spectrograph with a convex grating in an Offner configuration to produce a nearly distortion-free image. The sensor,...