Optical Variability in the Ocean

海洋上层光学特性的预测在海洋学中具有重要意义。这些特性调节可见辐射的穿透，对物理和生物海洋学过程都产生影响。上层吸收的太阳辐射加热海洋并使其稳定;因此，可见辐射衰减率的变化对上层海洋的热结构和动态起着重要作用。吸收的辐射是驱动海洋生物所依赖的光合作用过程的原因。对于应用兴趣，可见光波长的衰减决定了来自海面或深度处的点源和漫射源的有效传输。我的研究计划的目标是研究海洋光学特性的变化来源，并评估这种变化对海洋地球化学循环和物理气候相互作用的影响： 1.阐明海洋光学特性变化的来源。辐射源包括生物过程、流体动力学过程、无生命但具有光学活性的海洋成分（如气泡），以及受大气、海气界面和海洋内部辐射传输净效应影响的辐射场的物理特性。 2.评价海洋光学特性的可变性及其与海洋初级生产的关系，特别是在适合于确定海洋生物地球化学过程在不断变化的全球碳循环中的作用的尺度上。 3.评价海洋光学特性可变性在确定海洋上层热结构和动力学方面的作用。 我的方法包括理论分析，模拟，实验室实验，卫星观测，数据挖掘和广泛的海上实地调查。由此提高的预测技能将大大影响我们对海洋生物、物理和气候过程的理解。

Prediction of the optical properties of the upper ocean is of central importance in oceanography. These properties regulate the penetration of visible radiation with ramifications for both physical and biological oceanographic processes. Solar radiation absorbed in the upper layers heats and stabilizes the ocean; as a result, variability in the rate of attenuation of visible radiation plays a strong role in the upper ocean thermal structure and dynamics. Absorbed radiation is responsible for driving the photosynthetic process on which life in the sea depends. For applied interests, the attenuation of visible wavelengths dictates the effective transmission from point and diffuse sources either at the sea surface, or at depth. The goals of my research program are to examine both the sources of variability in ocean optical properties, and to evaluate the effect of this variability on both oceanic biogeochemical cycles and the physical climate interactions: 1. Elucidation of the sources of variability in the optical properties of the ocean. Sources include biological processes, fluid dynamical processes, non-living, but optically active ocean constituents (e.g. bubbles), and the physical properties of the radiance field as influenced by the atmosphere, the air-sea interface, and the net effects of radiative transfer within the ocean interior. 2. Evaluation of variability in oceanic optical properties and their relationship to primary production in the sea, particularly on scales appropriate for the determination of the role of oceanic biogeochemical processes in the changing global carbon cycle. 3. Evaluation of the role of variability in oceanic optical properties in determining the thermal structure and dynamics of the upper ocean. My approach includes theoretical analysis, simulations, laboratory experiments, satellite observations, data mining and extensive sea-going field investigations. The resulting increased skill in prediction will significantly influence our understanding of biological, physical and climate processes in the ocean.