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We present the mathematical description, design, and development of an instrument that precisely determines the backscattering coefficient (bb) in water using a custom integrating cavity to collect light scattered in the backward hemisphere-a true bb meter. The design allows us to directly measure bb in a medium while not making any assumptions about the shape of β(θ) and/or of its scattering particulates. The concave surface of the quartz aperture to the integrating cavity minimizes reflection losses. The output signal is a direct linear function of bb. This bb meter is the first instrument to make a direct measurement of bb with

The majority of organic carbon in the oceans is present as dissolved organic matter (DOM); therefore understanding the distribution and dynamics of DOM is central to understanding global carbon cycles. Describing the time-space variability in colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) has been difficult, as standard spectrophotometric methods for CDOM determination are laborious and susceptible to methodological biases. Previously, measurements of CDOM absorption in discrete water samples by use of a liquid-waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) compared favorably with measurements made with a benchtop spectrophotometer. Given this, we focused on automating the LWCC technique to improve our spatial and temporal sampling capabilities for CDOM. We found strong correlations between CDOM absorption spectra collected from discrete water samples using standard methods and selected corresponding CDOM spectra collected by the automated LWCC system. The near-continuous measurements by the LWCC system made it possible to map the temporal, spatial, and spectral variability of CDOM absorption along the ship track.