Field measurements of spectral backscattering coefficient of the Baltic Sea and boreal lakes

The spectral backscattering coefficient is a very important characteristic of waterbodies from the remote sensing point of view as the light backscattered from particles and water molecules makes it possible to get information about the properties of the water under investigation.Before this study very little was known about the backscattering coefficient in different parts of the Baltic Sea and in boreal lakes.We carried out backscattering coefficient measurements in the open parts of the Baltic Sea, in several relatively turbid estuaries, bays and in some lakes in southern Finland using HydroScat-6 backscattering sensor.The results show that spectral backscattering coefficient values vary by two orders of magnitude in the Baltic Sea and lakes under investigation.This has serious implications on interpretation of the remote sensing signal collected above these areas.