Flow visualization in the ocean-implications of laboratorybioluminescence experiments
Rohr, J.; Schoonmaker, J.; Losee, J.; Latz, M.I.; Hyman, M.
OCEANS apos;99 MTS/IEEE. Riding the Crest into the 21st Century
Volume 1, Issue , 1999 Page(s):145 - 156 vol.1
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/OCEANS.1999.799725
Summary:The objective of this study is to begin to assess the potential of
using flow-induced bioluminescence as a method for visualizing oceanic
flow fields. The bioluminescence response of dinoflagellates to
quantifiable levels of flow stimulus is characterized in laminar and
turbulent pipe flow. These results are used in a numerical simulation to
predict the spatial extent of the bioluminescent “footprint”
associated with supra-threshold levels of flow agitation in a ship's
wake. Assuming an ideal multi-spectral sensor, estimates of the ratio of
bioluminescent signal to ambient light noise are made for different
bioluminescence potentials, flow agitation and ambient light conditions.
It was found that the pipe flow experiments are remarkably repeatable,
with threshold values for bioluminescence stimulation occurring in
laminar flow at about 1 dyn cm-2. An aircraft carrier moving
at 18 kts is estimated to provide supra-threshold levels of hydrodynamic
stimulus throughout millions of cubic meters of seawater in its wake.
Preliminary multispectral analysis suggests that in littoral waters, for
most of the time, nearly all of the stimulated wake can be
detected
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