Developing a Predictive Capability for Bioluminescence Signatures
Abstract
Bioluminescence represents an operational threat to naval nighttime operations because the flow field associated with their motion stimulates naturally occurring plankton. In the littoral, the primary sources of bioluminescence are dinoflagellates, common unicellular plankton that are also known to form red tides. Dinoflagellate bioluminescence is stimulated by flow stress of sufficient magnitude to cause cell deformation, such as in the boundary layers of swimming animals, in separated flow of the wakes of animals, fixed objects, and ships, and in breaking surface waves, leading to spectacular displays of bioluminescence during periods of high dinoflagellate abundance. The oceans can be considered a luminescent minefield where bioluminescence is stimulated by flow disturbance. The bioluminescent signatures of some swimming fish are distinct enough to differentiate species; nocturnally foraging predators may use bioluminescent wakes to locate their prey. The bioluminescence signature of a moving object depends on the bioluminescence potential of the organisms (related to their species abundance and measured by bathyphotometers), the spatial characteristics of stimulatory flow regions, level of flow stress, and the detectability of the light source from a surface observer based on radiative transfer of the light through the water and surface interface, as well as surface ambient light conditions. We are interested in predicting bioluminescence signatures, specifically in developing the capability to computationally predict levels of flow stimulated bioluminescence. This predictive capability is based on a thorough understanding of the light-emitting characteristics of the source organisms and the measurement of their bioluminescence by ocean sensors, and will allow us to explore mitigation strategies that reduce the bioluminescence signature to decrease the threat of detection of moving underwater objects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA573550
Entities
People
- Grant B Deane
- M. D. Stokes
- Mark Hyman
- Michael I. Latz
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography