The Oregon State University Remote Sensing Ocean Optics (ORSOO) group's mission is to further the understanding of the world's oceans on both local and global scales by using optical measurements in combination with physical, biological, and chemical measurements, and models. 

approach

Optical instruments are regularly deployed throughout the world's oceans.  Major areas of interest have included Hawaiian waters, the Southern Ocean, and the waters off the west coast of North America.
Instruments are either deployed for short time periods (minutes to days) during research cruises, or are left within the water to collect data remotely for months on end.   Physical, chemical, and biological measurements are made concurrently whenever possible.  Measurements made in localized regions at high temporal resolution allow the study of local water column dynamics.  Such measurements made in numerous global locations aid in the understanding of larger-scale dynamics, as well as the calibration of optical sensors on remote-sensing platforms such as aircraft and satellites. 

key issues under investigation

• ecosystem dynamics in Hawaiian waters
• physical and biological characteristics of the Southern Ocean
• calibration of satellite ocean color sensors
• dynamics of sub-regions off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington