MEASUREMENT OF SPECTRAL-ANGULAR RADIANCES OF COASTAL WATERS IN THE KOREAN SOUTH SEA

Abstract

The radiance observed from the ocean depends on the illumination and viewing geometry along with the water properties, and this variation is called the bidirectional effect which is important to be considered in ocean color remote sensing. In the present study, as a preliminary step, the spectral-angular radiances in coastal water were investigated with experiments for a range of viewing geometric conditions (0-70o). Over a phytoplankton-dominated water surface the upward radiance for visible and near-infrared wavelengths (example, SeaWiFS and GOCI) increased at nadir and decreased toward the near-horizon, becoming dependent of viewing angles (with higher radiance at nadir view angle and lower radiance at near-horizon viewing angle). This variations were better expressed by the Q-factor, which relates upwelling radiance to the upwelling irradiance (i.e., Q = Eu/Lu, also dependent on Sun’s position). The Q-factor for this case was more non-uniform with the considered wavelengths and was dependent on viewing geometric conditions. These experimental results confirm the previous similar findings in other coastal waters.