Radiance in the ocean: effects of wave slope and raman scattering near the surface and at depths through the asymptotic region

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2009-05-15

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Three investigations were conducted on the nature of the radiance field in clear ocean water. It is important to understand the sunlight intensity below the sea surface because this leads to an understanding of how ocean creatures navigate in shallow and deep water. The nature of the radiance field is also gives an understanding of the living environment for ocean animals. Hydrolight 4.1, a simulation software developed by Curtis D. Mobley, was used to calculate the spectral radiance in clear ocean water for multiple wavelengths from the surface down through the asymptotic region. The first study found, as expected, that Raman scattering has little effect on wavelengths of light that are less than 500 nm. The effect of Raman scattering increases with increasing wavelength, and with increasing depth. The second study found the region of the water column where the radiance field is asymptotic. The third investigation found the effect of changing the mean square slope, or variance of the water-wave slope distribution. This effect is greatest near the surface and for a more truncated mean square slope integral. There are three peaks in percent difference to the ideal case, near the surface, one in the solar beam and the others near the critical angle of water.

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