Peter M. Saunders 



Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 



i am a meteorologist with an interest in exchange processes 

 between ocean and atmosphere. Currently Mr. Richard Payne and I are 

 attempting to make a definite measurement of the short wave albedo of 

 the ocean. Albedo is the ratio of the upward to the downward irradiance 

 close to the sea surface. Upward Irradiance has two components: 



1. Energy reflected from the surface, and 



2. Energy scattered internally which escapes through the 

 surface. 



In our measurement program we separate these. Above the surface we 

 measure total and diffuse downward and upward irradiance using pyra- 

 nometers, and just below the surface we measure the backscattered 

 irradiance on a transparent floating buoy. Broad band sensors are 

 used, namely thermopiles with uniform sensitivity from .3 to 3 microns; 

 thus, we measure the energy fluxes into and out of the ocean. 



On the theoretical side i have studied the interaction of 

 electromagnetic waves with the sea surface, following the work of Cox 

 and Munk. By extending their work to oblique viewing, where the 

 problems of multiple reflections and shadowing are important, I have 

 given an explanation of the existence of the ocean horizon, predicting 

 the radiance contrast between the sea and the sky there. 



The theoretical studies (together with the experimental 

 measurements) show that the following factors influence albedo: 



1 . Roughness 



2. Directionality or diffuseness of illumination. 



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