Effect of bio-optical parameter variability on the remote estimation of chlorophyll-a concentration in turbid productive waters: experimental results

• Published in: Applied optics (2004) Vol. 44; no. 3; p. 412
• Main Authors: Dall'Olmo, Giorgio, Gitelson, Anatoly A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 20.01.2005
• ISSN: 1559-128X
• DOI: 10.1364/ao.44.000412

The analytical development and underlying hypothesis of a three-band algorithm for estimating chlorophyll-a concentration ([Chla]) in turbid productive waters are presented. The sensitivity of the algorithm to the spectral location of the bands used is analyzed. A large set of experimental observations ([Chla] varied between 4 and 217 mg m(-3) and turbidity between 2 and 78 nephelometric turbidity units) was used to calibrate and validate the algorithm. It was found that the variability of the chlorophyll-a fluorescence quantum yield and of the chlorophyll-a specific absorption coefficient can reduce considerably the accuracy of remote predictions of [Chla]. Instead of parameterizing these interferences, their effects were minimized by tuning the spectral regions used in the algorithm. This allowed us to predict [Chla] with a relative root-mean-square error of less than 30%.