Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Turbulence and Particle Kinematics Using Flow Imaging Techniques
Published on: March 12, 2019
Laboratory measurements of light beam depolarization on turbulent convective flow
Sarah Woods1, Jacek Piskozub, Wlodzimierz Freda
1Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Division of Applied Marine Physics,4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149-1098, USA. swoods@rsmas.miami.edu
Abstract:
Laboratory measurements of light beam depolarization by a turbulent flow, corresponding to oceanic turbulence within the oceanic mixed layer, show that the depolarization rate (1x10(-5)?m(-1) to 3x10(-3)?m(-1)) correlates with turbulence strength and is consistent with polarized lidar observations [Opt. Express, 16, 1196 (2008)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.16.001196]. These results imply that one should be able to characterize oceanic turbulence with polarimetric oceanic lidar measurements.

