Magnitude Estimation of Absolute Distance Underwater

Abstract

Direct estimates of absolute distance were obtained in air and in water of varying turbidity. Distance in water was under- or overestimated, depending on the interaction of 3 factors: (1) a general tendency to underestimate; (2) optical distortion, which causes underestimation; and (3) water turbidity, which increases the magnitude of judgments, and whose effect increases with distance. Also, whereas the power-function exponent for distance estimation in air was slightly less than 1.0, exponents in water were greater than 1.0 and increased with increased turbidity.