Analysis of the Variability of the Optical Properties of Water in the Black Sea in Summer 1998 According to the Data of a SeaWiFS Satellite Instrument

We study examples of surveys of the Black Sea performed with the help of a SeaWiFS satellite instrument. It is shown that the results of measurements carried out in spectral channels of 510 and 555nm give information on the basic specific features of the space and time variability of the characteristics of absorption and scattering of light in seawater. The use of a spectral channel of 412nm is inefficient due to the low reliability of the results of the procedure of atmospheric correction performed according to standard algorithms. The results of model calculations demonstrate that the predominant contribution to the absorption of light in the Black Sea in summer is made by the yellow substance.     

Improved interpretation of the data of observations of the black sea by a SeaWiFS satellite instrument in autumn 1998

By analyzing, as an example, the data of observations of the Black Sea from the space in autumn 1998, we conclude that, in some cases, the atmospheric distortions manifest themselves in all measuring channels of SeaWiFS instruments and lead to significant errors in determining the concentration of chlorophyll according to the standard NASA algorithm. After additional rejection of the data with negative values of the spectral brightness of the sea surface at a wavelength of 412 nm, the results of evaluation the concentration of chlorophyll are in good agreement with the available data of direct measurements. We also present a detailed discussion of some specific features of operation of the NASA algorithm of atmospheric correction playing an important role in the interpretation of the data of observations of the Black Sea. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 2, pp. 68–79, March–April, 2008.     

Comparative analysis of the methods used for the determination of the optical parameters of waters in the black sea according to the data of satellite measurements

We demonstrate the possibility of determination of the spectral characteristics of absorption and backward scattering of light in the Black Sea according to the data of a SeaWiFS satellite device. We use specially selected data of observations obtained under favorable atmospheric conditions. It is shown that the results of calculations performed by using different methods are almost identical and weakly depend on the model parameters of the spectral course of the coefficients of absorption of light by yellow substance and its scattering by suspended particles.     

Manifestation of Specific Features of the Optical Properties of Atmospheric Aerosol over the Black Sea in the Interpretation of SeaWiFS Data

We consider the problem of quantitative evaluation of the optical characteristics of seawater according to the data of satellite measurements. The principal physical mechanisms responsible for the errors in the atmospheric correction made with the help of the standard NASA algorithm are established. It is shown that the models of atmospheric aerosol realized with the help of this algorithm are inconsistent with its actual properties over the Black Sea.