Retrieval of remote radiance reflection coefficients of coastal waters from the inherent optical properties

Upwelling spectral radiances from the water surface and in situ inherent optical properties are measured concurrently at the same locations. Values of spectral radiance reflectance coefficients are derived from in situ data and compared with those obtained from spectral radiance data. An algorithm for estimating reflectance coefficients based on attenuation and absorption data is proposed and evaluated. This algorithm is based on the theoretically derived equations and the experimentally obtained regressions that connect scattering and backscattering coefficients. Overall comparison of derived and measured radiance coefficients shows that this algorithm is suitable for processing ground truth data for the purposes of calibration remote and in situ optical measurements.