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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Light scattering on oceanic turbulence
Darek J Bogucki1, Julian A Domaradzki, Robert E Ecke
1Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Division of Applied Marine Physics, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149-1098, USA. dbogucki@rsmas.miami.edu
Abstract:
Turbulent inhomogeneities of fluid flow have the effect of scattering light in near-forward angles, thus providing an opportunity to use optics to quantify turbulence. Here we report measurements of the volume-scattering function in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-3) rad using a wave-front sensing technique. The total scattering coefficient b, due to scattering on turbulent inhomogeneities, is between 1 and 10 m(-1) under typical oceanographic conditions. The numerical calculations of turbulent volume-scattering functions compare well with the laboratory measurement. These results suggest that optical measurements at small angles are affected by turbulence-related scattering, and their effects can be well modeled with numerical calculations.
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