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The goals of these proposals are: 1. Measure the variability of optical properties in-space along a river mouth/inlet and observe the variability in time at a single position over a tidal cycle. 2. Relate this variability to the concentration and dynamics of dissolved and particulate materials, including variability in the particulate size distribution. 3. Relate the optical properties to the ocean reflectance so that algorithms to invert surface color to in-water constituents can be tested and improved., Prepared in collaboration with the Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

The goal of the proposed work is to investigate the accuracy of a new method for estimating the bulk density of suspended particles in situ and non-invasively. The new method uses the commercially available LISST-100x particle size analyzer paired with a digital floc camera. It would enable collection of high temporal resolution estimates of particle bulk density.

Long-term Goals: The goal of our research is to improve our ability to assess and predict the distribution of water column optical properties in the coastal region. Objectives: Our research in the New River Tidal Inlet had three primary objectives: 1. Measure the variability of optical properties in-space along a river mouth/inlet and observe the variability in time at a single position over a tidal cycle; 2. Relate this variability to the concentration and dynamics of dissolved and particulate materials, including variability in the particle size distribution; 3. Relate the optical properties to the ocean reflectance, so algorithms to invert surface color to in-water constituents can be tested and improved.

Our research in the mouth of the Columbia River has four primary objectives: 1. Measure the variability of optical properties in-space in the mouth of the Columbia River on ebbing and flooding tides during a high flow period; 2. Relate this variability to the concentration and dynamics of dissolved and particulate materials, including variability in the particle size distribution; 3. Relate the optical properties to the ocean reflectance, so algorithms to invert surface color to in-water constituents can be tested and improved; 4. Investigate sediment parameters that optimize fit between derived suspended sediment distribution in the Columbia River mouth and the distribution produced by Delft-3D.