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Ocean Optics:
Observing ocean biogeochemistry with optics

View Student's Final Projects from "Observing ocean biogeochemistry with optics" course!!

Dirk Aurin	Practical Chlorophyll Fluorometry
Andy Canion	Estimating Phytoplankton Absorption Spectra with the Bricaud and Stramski Model
Alexander Dadashev	SECCHI DISC
Brian Gaas	Fluorescence as a Proxy for Chlorophyll
Benjamin Hodges	Sun, Tides, and the BB2F
Tiho Kostadinov
Keleigh McAllister	CDM Absorption Forward and Inverse Model Comparisons
Eric Rehm	Backscatter and Chlorophyll
Mei Sato	Optical Observatory Sampling Frequency for the BB2F
Michael Sauer	Application of BB2F Corrections and Sources of Error in Total Suspended Material (TSM) Measurement
Wayne Slade	Estimating Total Suspended Matterfrom Particle Backscatter
Pauline Stephen	VSF as a proxy for Particle Size Distribution
Mary Ann Tiffany	TSM (total dissolved material) and Kd, the diffuse attenuation coefficient (PAR)
Julia Uitz	Phytoplankton absorption from ac-9 measurements
Peng Wang	Relationship between spectral particulate attenuation and particle size distribution
Timothy Wynne	TSRB to Chlorophyll

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Why Ocean Observatories?

Major advances in our understanding of the oceans are currently limited by our ability to make sustained observations over large areas. Continuous, long-term measurements of physical, chemical, geological, and biological variables in the oceans and the seafl oor below are required to understand trends and cyclic changes and to capture episodic events such as major earthquakes and harmful algal blooms. Enhanced capabilities for making sustained measurements of the ocean will open up new research opportunities and lead to improved detection and forecasting of environmental changes and their effects on biodiversity, coastal ecosystems, and climate. These advances will provide the tools for improved management of ocean resources such as fisheries, and better-informed decisions on the use of the coastal zone for recreation, development, and commerce. (Ocean Observatories Initiaitive, 2003)

Biogeochemical Processes, Proxies, and Measurements

Process Component	Proxy	Optical Proxy / Measurement
Light	Irradiance	Irradiance sensors
Biomass	Chlorophyll, Fluorescence	Fluorometer, Spectral fluorometer
Nutrients	Nitrates	Nitrate sensor
Physiology	Absorption, Attenuation Oxygen	a, c O2 sensor
Temperature	Temperature	CTD
Mixing	T, S, s, depth	CTD
Composition	Particle size, composition	Beam-cp Scattering: bbp, bp ,bbp/bp

Equipment	Dock Observatory
A wide range of laboratory and in-situ instrumention is used to study real ocean processes via biogeochemical proxies.	The Class Dock Observatory was set up to monitor conditions in the Damariscotta River at the Darling Marine Center. Data is being uploaded in real time or you can look through archived data - check it out!

Biogeochemical Observations

Chlorophyll

Total Suspended Materials

Particle Size Distribution

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Data collected at the Ocean Optics Class Dock Observatory is now here!!! The Class Dock Observatory was set up to monitor conditions in the Damariscotta River at the Darling Marine Center. The CDO is curently outfitted with a Wetlabs BB2F which measures chlorophyll fluorescence and optical backscatter at two wavelengths. Data is being uploaded in real time or you can look through archived data - check it out!

The Perry Phytoplankton and Optics Lab at the Darling Marine Center also monitors conditions at the Class Dock Observatory. See their dock sampling program for more information about the area including chlorophyll concentrations, phytoplankton community composition and photosynethetically available radiation (PAR) data.

Other useful sites related to the Class Dock Obervatory include:
Damariscotta Weather
Tidal data in East Boothbay

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Darling Marine Center University of Maine 193 Clark's Cove Rd. Walpole, Maine 04573 – 3307, USA (207) 563-3146 http://www.dmc.maine.edu