A SUBMERSIBLE PROBE TO MEASURE SPECTRAL DIFFUSE ATTENUATION AND DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE OF LIGHT BY NATURAL WATERS

摘要

This article presents schematics and principles of operation of a new submersible spectral probe to measure both diffuse attenuation and diffuse reflection coefficients of visible light by natural oceanic and lake waters. This probe directly measures the following properties of light field in water: spectral downwelling irradiance, spectral upwelling irradiance, and spectral diffuse attenuation coefficient of light. By processing these basic light field quantities this probe outputs values of diffuse reflectance of water mass below the instrument, spectral light attenuation and backscattering coefficients.