Measurements of Turbulent Dissipation During the Bahamas Optical Turbulence Experiment
Abstract
The Bahamas Optical Turbulence Experiment (BOTEX) was conducted in the summer of 2011 to investigate the impact of turbulence on underwater optical imaging. Underwater optical properties can be affected by turbulence in the water, due to localized changes in the index of refraction. We discuss measurements of current velocity and temperature, made with a Nortek Vector Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) and PME Conductivity- Temperature (CT) probe, as well as observations made with a Rockland Oceanographic Vertical Microstructure Profiler (VMP). The instruments were deployed in close proximity in the field and in the context of measurements of optical target clarity. Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation (TKED) and temperature dissipation (TD) rates are calculated from the ADV/CT measurements and compared to TKED and TD estimated from the data collected with the VMP. The results show reasonable agreement between the two methods; differences are attributed to turbulence patchiness and intermittence, as well as sampling challenges. The study also highlights the importance of collecting concurrent data on temperature, current velocity, and current shear to assess the turbulence impact on underwater optical properties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 16, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA587389
Entities
People
- Alan Dean Weidemann
- Ewa Jarosz
- Sarah Woods
- Silvia Matt
- Weilin W. Hou
- Wesley Goode
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory