Estimation of water quality parameters from irradiance reflectance using optical models

In order to evaluate near-surface water quality parameters from spectral irradiance reflectance observed just below the surface, models of both radiative transfer and optical properties of sea water are used. The computed water quality parameters are compared with those determined directly from concurrent surface water samples. In this comparison, efforts have been made to minimize the number of spectral irradiance reflectance used in the computation while ensuring that the computed water quality parameters fit well to the observed ones.The observed water quality parameters were found to be closely represented by those computed from the irradiance reflectance at wavelengths of 400 nm, 440 nm, 510 nm and 600 nm, and the fit is as good as the fit of observed water quality parameters to those computed from the irradiance reflectances at 151 wavelengths located between 400 nm and 700 nm at intervals of 2 nm. This implies that the water quality parameters can be evaluated from at least four radiances observed at high altitude, if the effects of the atmosphere and the sea surface can be correctly removed.