An approach for estimating absorption and backscattering coefficients from MERIS in the Bohai Sea

• Published in: International journal of remote sensing Vol. 35; no. 24; pp. 8169 - 8187
• Main Authors: Qiu, Zhongfeng, Su, Yuanyuan, Yang, Anan, Wang, Lin, Mao, Zhihua, Zhou, Bin, Chen, Shuguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 17.12.2014
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied geophysics; Atmospheric correction; Backscattering; Biological and medical sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Estimating; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Internal geophysics; Mathematical models; Monitoring; Remote sensing; Teledetection and vegetation maps; Bohai Bay; Pacific Ocean; Northwest Pacific; Yellow Sea; North Pacific; INW, Bohai Sea; algorithms; models; absorption; Space remote sensing; Satellite observation; distribution; monitoring; backscattering; coastal zone; marine environment; imagery; Environment; Coastal water; atmospheric correction
• ISSN: 0143-1161; 1366-5901
• DOI: 10.1080/01431161.2014.980919

Distribution of absorption and backscattering coefficients (a(560) and b b (550)) is important for characterizing the marine optical environment. Satellite remote sensing is a useful tool for investigating the absorption and backscattering coefficients in coastal waters. A simple semi-analytical algorithm (SAA BS ) was developed for estimating a(560) and b b (550) in the Bohai Sea from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) images. Using field measurements, the SAA BS model attained root-mean-square (RMS) values of 13.25% and 12.75% for a(560) and b b (550), respectively. The SAA BS model was also used to retrieve a(560) and b b (550) from the MERIS image. The match-up analysis results indicate that the RMS values of a(560) and b b (550) retrievals are 18.75% and 17%, respectively. These findings suggested that if the atmospheric correction scheme is available, the SAA BS model may be used for the quantitative monitoring of the absorption and backscattering coefficients in the Bohai Sea from the MERIS images.