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The article is dedicated to the anniversary of Oleg Viktorovich Kopelevich, Head of the Ocean Optics Laboratory of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. The article describes his contributions into the development ocean optics, as well as his organizational and teaching activities.

Results of optical studies of the Kara Sea waters are considered. The data of ship borne measurements are compared with satellite observations. The maximum values of the beam attenuation coefficient, the chlorophyll, and the yellow substance fluorescence were observed in the Ob gulf and in the coastal waters west of the Yamal Peninsula. The minimum values were observed in the central and western parts of the Kara Sea. Frontal zones with sharp changes of the parameters involved were observed. The distribution of the seawater’s optical characteristics was closely related to the hydrological structure of the Kara Sea’s waters. The data of the shipborne measurements were consistent with the satellite observations.

The distribution of the suspended particulate matter concentration in the Kara Sea is analyzed based on ship and satellite data. The statistical relationships between the suspended matter concentration and the optical characteristics were revealed. Charts of the distribution of the suspended matter concentration in the Kara Sea were plotted, which confirmed that the application of optical methods for analyzing the spatial distribution of the suspended matter is effective. The most turbid waters were observed in the Ob Gulf, Yenisei Bay, the Baidaratskaya Gulf, and the adjacent regions. The smallest concentrations of suspended matter were observed in the central and western parts of the Kara Sea.

439 The 30th voyage of the R/V Rift was conducted on April 17–28, 2009. The main goal of the expedition was the comprehensive integrated exploration of the contemporary sedimentation system in the northern Caspian Sea in the mid spring season. The basic tasks involved measurements of the marine environmental features and the collection of relevant samples for the subsequent analysis and interpretation of the obtained data. Use was made of various techniques: CTD and ADCP profiling; the recording of currents with moor ing stations; optical observations with a Secci disk, a PUM transparency probe, a floating spectroradiome ter, and satellite data reception; hydrochemical deter minations of the О2, Si, and PO4; sedimentology (the aerosols, suspended matter, and pigments and the use of a Coulter counter); and marine biology (collecting samples of phyto and zooplankton). One of the main goals of the expedition was the lifting and mooring of subsurface buoy stations with sediment traps and “Potok” current meters. The route of the expedition and the stations’ positions are shown in Fig. 1.

Some advantages of lidar remote sensing methods are described along with the tasks for solving which these methods are used. Examples of modern lidar systems designed for the oceanological monitoring are also given. The lidars are successfully used to solve a wide range of fishery problems: measuring the hydrooptycal characteristics of the sea surface layer, locating fish schools and estimating the corresponding biomass (1,2), finding the phytoplankton concentration (3), registering the water pollution (4), etc. The remote character of the lidar measurements allows carrying them out from aboard a moving carrier (plane, ship). No restrictions are imposed on the speed and course of the carrier. Lidar sounding allows measurements in the water without submerging any devices and therefore without affecting the processes and objects studied. Ship lidar "Gidrobiont" (SLG) was designed by JSC "Giprorybflot" in cooperation with the Institute of Oceanology RAS for installation on research and fishing ships. The main feature of the SLG is the combination of polarization and spectral channels in its design. Two methods are used for processing the echo signal formed during sounding of sea water with short unidirectional laser pulse. The first one analyses the time dependency of degree of polarization of the echo signal and therefore provides the possibility of getting vertical profiles of hydrooptical characteristics and locating and depth measurements for different inhomogeneities in sea water. The second one uses spectral analysis of the echo signal allowing locating phytoplankton clusters in the surface water layer and determining their characteristics.