Determination of the chlorophyll-a concentration vertical profile by the spectra of incident solar radiation in the ocean

Methods of rapid analysis of the chlorophyll-a concentration vertical profile by the spectra of incident solar radiation are suggested. The methods are applicable for the ocean layerz=20–80 m containing waters of type 1 (by Morel's classification). Testing of the methods underin situ conditions showed that they can be used to reconstructC_ch(z) profiles, with a relative error of 10% and a root-meansquare error of 20–30% at most, provided the data are calibrated using field observations conducted at two or three sites in the test area.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.