An Operational Model for Remote Estimating Absorption of Optical Activity Constituents

Abstract

The need for an accurate model that can derive the absorption coefficient of optical activity constituents from both marine water and coastal water remains necessary. This study aimed to develop an algorithm for determining the absorption coefficients for both phytoplankton and nonphytoplankton pigments [aph (λ) and adg (λ), respectively]. This algorithm included two portions: (1) the total absorption coefficients at the blue and green bands were computed using a neural network technology-based, quasi-analytical algorithm; and (2) the relationship between the adg (λ) coefficient and the coefficient of total absorption was analyzed. This algorithm was evaluated with both in-situ observations and remote-sensed satellite data. The results showed that the algorithm could produce acceptable results in the retrievals of adg (λ) and aph (λ) in both turbid and clear waters. The results also indicated that the proposed algorithm was effective for distinguishing between adg (λ) and aph (λ) from the total coefficients of absorption, even though more independent assessments using in-situ and remote-sensed data are required to further improve the approach.