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Thin Layers Experiment, East Sound, Orcas Island, Washington
Interactions between Small-Scale Physical, Optical and Biological Processes

[ Introduction ] [ Project Goals ] [ Approach ] [ Instrumentation ] [ Results ]

Project Goals

Our long-term goal is to quantify the interactions between small-scale biological and physical processes within the upper ocean. This project has addressed that goal by examining specific scientific questions which relate the distribution and variability in sub-1m scale bio-optical properties with coincident spatial scales of physical properties.

Specifically, we wish to:

• Define, in coastal environments under a range of forcing conditions, the small-scale structure of planktonic organisms, as identified through measurements of spectral light absorption, attenuation, light scattering, and spectral fluorescence.
• Quantify the role of physical processes such as internal waves and small-scale vertical shear in horizontal velocity on the persistence of plankton layers.

The Bio-Optics site was created by, and is maintained by Christopher E. Wingard.
Questions, comments or criticisms? cwingard_at_coas_dot_oregonstate_dot_edu.
This page was last updated on 09-Nov-2005 using 100% post-consumer recycled photons.

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