Theoretical problems of optical investigations of natural and anthropogenic processes in the ocean

The structure and composition of information-optical technologies for study ing the variability of the space-time distribution of optically active impu rities at the ocean-atmosphere interface and in the interior volume of the seawater are presented. Certain aspects of the physicomathematical simulati on of hydrophysical processes and optical paths for probing seawater from d ifferent spatial levels are examined. The application of the basic models i s shown for examples demonstrating the possibility of multispectral optical methods of identifying hydrophysical anomalies. (C) 1999 The Optical Socie ty of America. [S1070-9762(99)01211-7].