Optical Variability and Bottom Classification in Turbid Waters. Phase 2

The development of an optical methodology, valid for Case II coastal waters, for the remote classification of the sea bottom including sediment type calcareousquartz sand, clay, mud, benthic flora benthic diatom and algal mats, seagrasses, green and red macrophytes, and bottom structure reef, rock. The methodology will exploit elastic and inelastic spectral information as well as 3-dimensional size, shape, and texture information determined by optical methods. The deconvolution of the components of the underwater and water-leaving light fields in coastal waters. The determination of feature vectors, including 3-D morphology, which hold information unique to different bottom types and structure for use in an automatic classification strategy. The significant challenge inherent in this work is the need to identify and address all significant factors affecting the underwater light field.