Coastal Benthic Optical Properties

CoBOP

Coastal Benthic Optical Properties

a research program of the

Environmental Optics Program

Office of Naval Research

The Coastal Benthic Optical Properties (CoBOP) program was a multi-year initiative to investigate optical processes associated with the shallow ocean floor. The program was sponsored by the Environmental Optics Program (now Optics and Biology) at the Office of Naval Research. The science objectives of the CoBOP program were:

To define and develop the means to measure the inherent optical properties associated with coastal benthic environments.
To verify state-of-the art radiative transfer models for optically-shallow water in controlled field tests.
To investigate the relationships between measured benthic optical properties and associated biological, chemical and physical processes.

The initiative was field oriented and emphasized the interaction of light with coral reefs, seagrasses and associated marine sediments. There was significant collaboration between CoBOP and other research and development programs (within DOD) concerned with remote sensing and underwater imaging.

Preliminary field research was conducted in the summers of 1995 and 1996 at sites in the Dry Tortugas, Florida, and the main CoBOP program commenced in 1997

The primary CoBOP field site was the Caribbean Marine Research Center, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. Large-scale field campaigns were conducted in May/June 1998 and May/June 1999, and May 2000. These included approximately 60 researchers based on the island plus four ships carrying additional personnel and an aircraft flying a hyperspectral imaging camera. Smaller outings took place in January 1999 and 2000. Following the field campaigns efforts were devoted to data analysis and publication.

CoBOP links:

CoBOP peer-reviewed publications
CoBOP conference presentations
A list of scientists who participated in the CoBOP program, with copies of their research abstracts
Ocean Optics and Biology Program, Office of Naval Research

This page is hosted at Physical Sciences Inc. Dr. Charles Mazel, a Principal Research Scientist at PSI, was the Chief Scientist for the CoBOP program. Please direct inquiries to mazel@psicorp.com.