Deriving Inherent Optical Properties from MERIS imagery and in situ measurement using quasi-analytical-algorithm

Abstract

The paper describes Inherent Optical Properties (IOP) of the Berau coastal waters derived from in situ measurements and Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). Field measurements of optical water, total suspended matter (TSM) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations were carried out during the dry season of 2007. During this periode, only four MERIS data were coincident with in situ measurements: August 31, 2007. The MERIS top-of-atmosphere radiances were atmospherically corrected using the MODTRAN radiative transfer model. The in situ optical measurement have been processed into Apparent Optical Properties (AOP), sub surface irradiance. The Remote sensing reflectance of in situ measurement as well as MERIS data were inverted into the IOP using quasianalytical algorithm (QAA). The result indicated that coefficient of determination (R2) of backscattering coefficients of suspended particles (bbp) increased with increasing wavelength, however the R2 of absorption spectra of phytoplankton (a ph) decreased with increasing wavelength.