Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

Calibration Of A General Optical Equation For Remote Sensing Of Suspended Sediments In A Moderately Turbid Estuary, Richard P. Stumpf, Jonathan Pennock

School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering

Abstract

A general algorithm for determining suspended sediment concentrations in the surface waters of estuaries has been developed for use with satellite data. The algorithm uses a three-parameter general optical equation to relate suspended sediment concentrations to water reflectances that have been corrected for sun angle effects, atmospheric path radiance, and tidal excursion. Using data collected by the advanced very high resolution radiometer on five different dates, reflectances were determined using two different methods, one providing maximum correction for haze and the other providing minimum sensitivity to pigments. For both methods, in situ and remotely sensed samples from Delaware Bay …