MURI Camouflage Project: Polarized Light in Coastal Waters, 2010

June 2010 campaign data from a Multi University Research Initiative (MURI) project studying biological responses to polarized light in coastal waters off Port Aransas, Texas. The dataset includes radiometric polarization measurements, water column inherent optical properties (IOPs), remote sensing reflectance (Rrs), benthic reflectance, and pigment concentrations. Research was later expanded to coastal waters off the Florida Keys.

Use Cases

• Modeling underwater light fields based on polarization and radiometric measurements.
• Analyzing camouflage effectiveness of marine organisms based on polarization-reflectance responses.
• Studying water type classification (eutrophic vs. oligotrophic) using inherent optical properties (IOPs) and pigment concentrations.
• Developing remote sensing algorithms for coastal waters using reflectance (Rrs) and benthic data.

Strengths

• Data collected during a dedicated, funded Multi University Research Initiative (MURI) campaign.
• Includes multiple measurement types: polarization, IOPs, Rrs, benthic reflectance, and pigments.
• Covers distinct water types: eutrophic sediment-laden coastal waters and oligotrophic offshore waters.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Field campaign involving radiometric and in-water measurements.

Time Range

Primary campaign in June 2010, with later campaigns.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 19:38:27.988950; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Coastal waters off Port Aransas, Texas, and later the Florida Keys.