Development and Testing of Major New Instrumentation for High Accuracy Measurement of Backscattering-bb and Total Scattering-b in Natural Waters

pi要求资助开发一种新的仪器来测量后向散射系数bb和总散射b。拟议的工作将导致新的仪器，将提供第一个单一的直接测量bb，而不需要任何关于相位函数的先验假设。组合的bb和b仪表将在确定光学散射和后向散射系数方面提供无与伦比的精度。这些是遥感和水中生物光学应用的重要参数。这种相对简单的仪器有望对海洋的光学测量产生变革性的影响，并将能够对散射粒子的性质和分布提供新的了解。更广泛的影响：该活动极有可能产生仪器，使我们能够发现和探索新的影响，并增加我们的理解。该仪器具有足够紧凑、可靠和低功耗的潜力，可用于自主水下航行器和潜水漂流浮标。在这样的平台上操作这个新仪器将产生大量以前无法获得的数据，这些数据的分析可以成为本科生和研究生研究工作的主题。与一个领域的前沿信息打交道，比如这个新系统可以产生的信息，是最好的教学工具，非常有益，对学生来说是真正的自信和自尊的建立者。总而言之，我完全同意提案中的影响说明。该提案包括为博士后、研究生和本科生提供资金。

The PIs request funding to develop a new instrumentation for the measurement of the backscattering coefficient bb and the total scattering b. The proposed work will lead to new instrumentation that will provide the first single direct measurement of bb without any a priori assumptions about the phase function. The combined bb and b meter will provide unparalleled accuracy in determining the optical scattering and backscattering coefficients. These are very important parameters for remote sensing and for in-water bio-optical applications. This relatively simple instrument can be expected to have a transformative impact on optical measurements in the ocean and will be able to shed new light on the nature and distribution of scattering particulates. Broader Impacts: The activity stands an excellent chance of producing instrumentation that will allow the discovery and exploration of new effects and increase our understanding. This instrumentation has the potential of being sufficiently compact reliable and low power to be used in autonomous underwater vehicles and diving drifting buoys. Operating this new instrument from such platforms will produce a flood of previously unavailable data whose analysis can be the subject of both under-graduate and graduate research work. Working with information at the edge of a field, such as the one that could be produced by this new system, is the best of teaching tools, extremely rewarding and a real self-confidence and self-esteem builder for students. In summary I fully concur with the impact statement in the proposal. The proposal includes funds for a postdoc, graduate student, and undergraduate student.