Measurements of turbulent dissipation during the Bahamas Optical Turbulence Experiment

  • Silvia Matt
  • , Weilin Hou
  • , Sarah Woods
  • , Ewa Jarosz
  • , Wesley Goode
  • , Alan Weidemann

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The Bahamas Optical Turbulence Experiment (BOTEX) was conducted in the summer of 2011 to investigate the impact of turbulence on underwater optical imaging. Underwater optical properties can be afiected by turbulence in the water, due to localized changes in the index of refraction. We discuss measurements of current velocity and temperature, made with a Nortek Vector Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) and PME Conductivity- Temperature (CT) probe, as well as observations made with a Rockland Oceanographic Vertical Microstructure Profiler (VMP). The instruments were deployed in close proximity in the field and in the context of measurements of optical target clarity. Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation (TKED) and temperature dissipation (TD) rates are calculated from the ADV/CT measurements and compared to TKED and TD estimated from the data collected with the VMP. The results show reasonable agreement between the two methods; differences are attributed to turbulence patchiness and intermittence, as well as sampling challenges. The study also highlights the importance of collecting concurrent data on temperature, current velocity, and current shear to assess the turbulence impact on underwater optical properties.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationOcean Sensing and Monitoring V
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2013
    EventOcean Sensing and Monitoring V - Baltimore, MD, United States
    Duration: Apr 30 2013May 1 2013

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    Volume8724
    ISSN (Print)0277-786X
    ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

    Conference

    ConferenceOcean Sensing and Monitoring V
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityBaltimore, MD
    Period04/30/1305/1/13

    Keywords

    • Optical turbulence
    • TD
    • TKED
    • Turbulence measurements

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