Inherent optical properties-reflectance relationships revisited

Lo Prejato, Marilisa and McKee, David and Mitchell, Catherine (2020) Inherent optical properties-reflectance relationships revisited. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125 (11). e2020JC016661. ISSN 0148-0227 (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016661)

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Abstract

Understanding the relationship between remote sensing reflectance, Rrs(λ) and the inherent optical properties (IOPs) of natural waters is potentially a key to improving our ability to determine biogeochemical constituents from radiometric measurements. These relationships are usually described as a function of absorption, a(λ), and backscattering, bb(λ), coefficients, with the literature providing various forms of equation operating on either bb(λ)/a(λ) or bb(λ)/[a(λ)+bb(λ)] to represent the impact of variations in light field geometries and changes in sea-water composition. The performance of several IOP-reflectance relationships is assessed using HydroLight radiative transfer simulations covering a broad range of Case 1 and Case 2 water conditions. While early versions of IOP-reflectance relationships assigned variability to associated proportionality factors (e.g., f/Q) or low-order polynomial functions, recent studies have demonstrated relationships between Rrs(λ) and bb(λ)/[a(λ)+bb(λ)] are wellcharacterized by nonlinear (high-order polynomial), monotonic functions. This study demonstrates that this approach is also valid for relationships operating on bb(λ)/a(λ) and that there is no intrinsic benefit to functions operating on bb(λ)/[a(λ)+bb(λ)] compared to bb(λ)/a(λ) for Case 2 waters, contrary to recent suggestions in the literature. In all cases it is necessary to carefully consider the performance of best fit relationships across the full range of variability of IOPs and Rrs(λ), with higher order polynomials required to enable equivalent performance across the range of natural variability. The analysis further demonstrates insignificant wavelength sensitivity across the visible region, limited sensitivity to changes in solar zenith angle and extends to relationships for below surface remote sensing reflectance, rrs(λ).

ORCID iDs

Lo Prejato, Marilisa, McKee, David ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8023-5923 and Mitchell, Catherine;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:74660
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    30 November 2020
    Published
    31 October 2020
    Published Online
    16 October 2020
    Accepted
    Keywords:marine optics, ocean colour, reflectance, remote sensing, inherent optical properties, Physics, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), Geophysics, Atmospheric Science, Space and Planetary Science
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Strategic Research Themes > Ocean, Air and Space
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:20 Nov 2020 11:41
    Last modified:08 Feb 2023 02:29
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/74660
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