This work will extend the observations made as part of the U.S. JGOFS Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS) Program to include detailed optical oceanographic measurements. These observations are necessary to develop and evaluate optically- based primary production models. The goals are to: 1) Characterize the optical properties at the BATS site; temporally seasonally, as well as on diel time scales), spatially (as a function of dept) and spectrally (by color of light); 2) Examine the light utilization by the phytoplankton community and its temporal variability; 3) Develop and evaluate bio-optical models for determining in situ irradiance spectra and primary production rates from standard incident irradiance and pigment concentration measurements; and 4) Provide the "optical link" by which the BATS observations may be used to evaluate bio-optical models for pigment concentration, primary production, and sinking particle fluxes from future satellite- based ocean color sensors.
