Modelling the Remote Sensing Reflectance for the Sea Surface Layer Using Empirical Inherent Optical Properties

The study focuses on modeling the remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) for optically complex waters based on the absorption (a), scattering (b), and backscattering (bb) coefficients measured at selected wavelengths (420 nm, 488 nm, 555 nm, and 620 nm). Rrs was calculated using both Morel’s proxy and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. A comparison of the Rrs values obtained from the proxy and the MC simulations allowed us to determine the proxy factor (k). The results evidenced that this proxy parameter increases with wavelength. The findings demonstrate that Rrs can be computed from inherent optical properties (IOPs) using radiative transfer modeling, providing light independent reflectance estimates, unlike direct in situ Rrs measurements, which are affected by instantaneous lightening conditions.