Ocean Optics: Introduction And Overview

This paper provides an introduction and overview of the discipline known as "ocean optics". Emphasis is on basic concepts, the optical quantities involved, their measurement, and interconnecting theoretical relationships. Specific topics include radiometric quantities, inherent optical properties, apparent optical properties, measuring the spectral absorption coefficient, effect of bandwidth on Gershun's Law, measuring the volume scattering function, effect of the deep chlorophyll layer, removal of cloud effects from depth profiles of irradiance, and future directions.