Full Spectrum Complete IOP Instrument Suite

An ultimate goal of ocean-observing and ocean-color remote sensing programs is to determine the nature and concentrations of ocean-water constituents and, combined with models, infer the biological and physical processes occurring. To effectively achieve this goal, it is absolutely necessary to obtain direct measurements of the fundamental (i.e., inherent) optical absorption and scattering properties of these constituents. Accurate and complete data on these inherent optical properties (IOP¿s) will directly benefit NOAA¿s ocean-color, earth-observing, and global climate change programs. We propose to develop a suite of in-situ oceanographic instruments that together measure a complete set of the IOP¿s of ocean waters as well as the laboratory methods and technology necessary to accurately calibrate these instruments. Our design approach will make use of proven instrumentation methods combined with the latest technologies as well as new developments in water-optical property measurements. The suite of instruments will consist of a novel hyperspectral (350 - 850 nm) absorption meter, hyperspectral transmissiometer and a multi-wavelength volume scattering function instrument.