Average transmittance of multi-Gaussian (flat-topped and annular) optical beams in an anisotropic turbulent ocean is examined analytically based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle. Transmittance variations depending on the link length, anisotropy factor, salinity and temperature contribution factor, source size, beam flatness order of flat-topped beam, Kolmogorov microscale length, rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy, rate of dissipation of the mean squared temperature, and thickness of annular beam are examined. Results show that all these parameters have effects in various forms on the average transmittance in an anisotropic turbulent ocean. Hence, the performance of optical wireless communication systems can be improved by taking into account the variation of average transmittance versus the above parameters.
