USING THE MARAS SYSTEM FOR THE IN-SITU CHARACTERIZING OF THE SPECTRALOPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF THE NORTH-SEA

The MArine RAdiometric Spectrometer (MARAS) has been developed to perf orm in situ spectral marine radiometry. The vector and scalar componen ts of the upwelling and downwelling light field are measured simultane ously over a constant separation, enabling the estimation of the appar ent and inherent optical properties of a water body. When combined wit h the active MARAS sub-system, the transmissometer and scatterometer, MARAS is capable of more fully describing the optical properties of th e ocean. Results from a 1994 cruise in the North Sea are illustrated. The spectral absorption coefficient, the spectral reflectance and the spectral upwelling radiance for a number of sample sites at different depths are shown with concurrent sea truth data. Copyright (C) 1996 El sevier Science Ltd.