Effective Modulation Transfer Function of Light Transmission through Rough Ocean Surfaces

摘要

My work involves experimentally investigating the interrelationships and variability of optical properties in the ocean and atmosphere. My goal is to define the variability of the optical properties, particularly those dealing with light scattering, and to improve the prediction capabilities of image and radiative transfer models used in the ocean. My near term ocean optics objectives have been: 1) to improve the measurement capability of measuring the in-water and above-water spectral radiance distribution and extending this capability to polarization, 2) to investigate the variability of the Point Spread Function (PSF) as it relates to the imaging properties of the ocean, and 3) to improve the characterization of the Bi-directional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) of benthic surfaces in the ocean, and 4) to understand the capabilities and limitations of using radiative transfer to model the BRDF of particulate surfaces. The original PI on this grant, Tony Elfouhaily, passed away. I have now taken over this grant, but the objectives have changed as the work is now combined with my work looking at the downwelling spectral polarized radiance distribution, in the near surface of the ocean. The objective of this work is to investigate the polarization of the downwelling light field near the surface.