mi unTO Di'i'ioiniii Applications of Ocean Color

Abstract

Abstract: Satellite-derived ocean color data yield global information on optical properties of the ocean. This information is important in predicting the performance of various Navy electro-optical systems. Although optical climatologies are valuable for planning various Navy applications, real-time, satellite-derived, ocean optical parameters are paramount to the effective operation of many weapon systems. Significant advances in optical oceanography have recently been made by using satellite-derived ocean color data. The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) data base provided the first global overview of the spatial and temporal distributions of near-surface bio-optical properties (Austin and Petzold, 1981; Smith and Baker, 1978, 1982; Gordon etal., 1980, 1983) and scales of variability. In deep-ocean Case I waters, where the concentration of phytoplankton is high compared to that of other particles (Morel and Prieur, 1977), optical properties vary seasonally and co-vary with surface phytoplankton concentrations