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.