Propagation through and characterization of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena: introduction

This joint feature issue in Applied Optics and the Journal of the Optical Society of America A on the topic of propagation through and characterization of atmospheric and oceanic phenomena highlights the latest research in the physics of light propagation, remote sensing, and EO/IR effects in either the atmosphere or the ocean. The feature issue is being published in conjunction with the Propagation Through and Characterization of Atmospheric and Oceanic Phenomena (pcAOP) topical meeting held at the Optica Imaging Congress on 18-21 August 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The feature includes a tribute paper honoring Dr. Akira Ishimaru, a retrospective by Dr. Norman Kopeika, and an invited paper led by Dr. Mikhail Vorontsov.