Studies on some of the inherent optical properties of natural waters [invited]

The author's experimental activities in ocean optics that are related to the inherent optical properties of natural waters are discussed. The specific subjects discussed are (1) measurements of Mueller matrices for several ocean water regions; (2) measurements of the spectral absorption of pure water throughout the visible spectrum; (3) the development of an in situ absorption meter that provides higher accuracy than is available for any other inherent optical property; (4) a relatively simple expression for the refractive index of water as a function of temperature, salinity, and wavelength; and (5) development of the first instrument to directly determine the backscattering coefficient b(b).