Short Courses

Michael Twardowski

Short Course Description

Optical measurements are used in a wide range of applications in oceanographic research, from synoptic remote sensing to discriminating the properties of individual particles.  This course will cover the instrumentation, techniques, and protocols that rely on optics to explore the biogeochemical properties of the ocean, with an emphasis on in-water measurements. The course will provide an overview of applications.  The theory and methods of measuring the inherent optical properties and the apparent optical properties will be discussed, including general principles, advantages and drawbacks of the various methods, calibration, and correction protocols where necessary.  Protocols for deploying instrumentation on various platforms to resolve specific time-space scales will be addressed.  Emphasis will be placed on emerging technologies and platforms.  Algorithms to derive biogeochemical parameters from these optical measurements will be reviewed.  The course will involve hands-on lab demonstrations of measurements and protocols.  Heidi Dierssen will guest lecture on radiometry.

Short Course Outline

09:00-10:30    Lecture #1: Optical Sensors: Theory and Instrumentation (IOP and AOP)

1.1            IOP sensors: Applications (i.e., why are they important?)

1.1.1       Attenuation measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration

1.1.2       Absorption measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration

1.1.3       Scattering measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration

1.1.4       Fluorescence measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration

1.2            Radiometric sensors: Applications (i.e., why are they important?) (Dierssen)

1.2.1       Radiance measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration (Dierssen)

1.2.2       Irradiance measurement theory, instrumentation, and calibration (Dierssen)

10:30  BREAK

10:40-11:30    Lab #1: IOP devices: operation, calibration, processing

11:30-12:00    Lecture #2: Optical Sensors: Processing and correction of data

12:00-13:00    LUNCH

13:00-14:00    Lecture #3: Field Deployment of Optical Sensors

Pros and cons of various deployment methods and platforms for making optical measurements

14:00-15:00    Lab #2: radiometric devices: operation, calibration, processing (Dierssen/Twardowski)

15:00  BREAK

15:10-16:30    Lecture #4: Optical Measurements as Biogeochemical Proxies

4.1            Types of algorithms (i.e., analytical, semianalytical, etc.)

4.2            Biogeochemical parameters and published algorithms

16:30-17:00    Q/A