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 depth) 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.
