An in situ optics system for coastal ocean color monitoring

A recent transition of several Naval operations to coastal environments has emphasized the need for regional- to basin-scale maps of water clarity. Data integrated from in situ and remotely sensing instruments are required to provide these maps. A specially designed vertical profiling system is the primary source of in-water optics data for the Naval Oceanographic Office. Optical measurements include radiance, irradiance, transmission, and absorption at multiple wavebands as well as light scattering at 880 nm. Select physical parameters such as temperature and salinity are also measured. A single controller manages both power and data transmission for all instruments. Data are transmitted to a PC-based data acquisition/display system. The profiling system was recently modified to include the spectral wavelengths of the SeaWiFS ocean color instrument. The optics profiling system will collect sea-truth data for calibrating and validating ocean color instruments in coastal waters.