Abstract
The analysis of satellite ocean color data that are acquired over coastal waters is highly relevant to gain understanding of the functioning of these complex ecosystems. In particular, the estimation of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations is of great interest for monitoring the coastal dynamics. However, a high number of pixels of satellite images could be affected by the surface-reflected solar radiation, so-called the sunglint. These pixels are either removed from the data processing, which results in a loss of information about the ocean optical properties, or they are subject to the application of glint correction techniques that may contribute to increase the uncertainties in the SPM retrieval. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the high potential of exploiting satellite observations acquired in the sunglint viewing geometry for determining the water leaving radiance for SPM dominated coastal waters. For that purpose, the contribution of the water leaving radiance Lw to the satellite signal LTOA is quantified for the sunglint observation geometry using forward radiative transfer modelling. Some input parameters of the model were defined using in-situ bio-optical measurements performed in various coastal waters to make the simulations consistent with real-world observations. The results showed that the sunglint radiance is not sufficiently strong to mask the influence of the oceanic radiance at the satellite level, which oceanic radiance remains significant (e.g., 40% at 560 nm for a SPM concentration value of 9 g m−3). The influence of the sunglint radiance is even weaker for highly turbid waters and/or for strong wind conditions. In addition, the maximum radiance simulated in the sunglint region for highly turbid waters remains lower than the saturation radiances specified for the current ocean color sensors. The retrieval of Lw and SPM should thus be feasible from radiances measured in the sunglint pattern by satellite sensors, thus increasing the number of exploitable pixels within a satellite image. The results obtained here could be used as a basis for the development of inverse ocean color algorithms that would interestingly use the radiance measured in sunglint observation geometry as it has been done for other topics than the field of ocean color research.
Highlights
Satellite observations of ocean color are highly relevant to improve our understanding and monitoring of coastal ecosystems
The satellite remote sensing of coastal waters is of great interest for improving our understanding of thTehefunscattieollnitiengroefmtohteesesdeynnsianmg icoefcocsoyasstteaml sw. aItteirssalisso ooff pgarretiactulianrteimrepstorftoanr ceimfoprroavvinagrietoyuor f uanpdpelrisctaatniodninsgdoefdtihcaetfeudntcoticoonainstgalomf tahnesaegedmyneanmt wicheiccohsyosftteenmism
The top of atmosphere radiance LTOA is composed of the water leaving radiance Lw, the atmospheric radiance and the glint radiance Lglint; the latter includes both the components of the skylight and the sunlight reflections by the sea surface
Summary
Satellite observations of ocean color are highly relevant to improve our understanding and monitoring of coastal ecosystems Such ecosystems are characterized by a considerable spatial variability because of river discharges, wind and tidal/water-level fluctuations. The sea surface effects include the direct solar radiance that is specularly reflected from wave facets by the sea surface, so-called the sunglint radiance, and the scattered light that is specularly reflected by the sea surface, so-called the skyglint radiance. The consideration of both the sunglint and skyglint radiances is hereafter referred to as the glint radiance Lglint. The top of atmosphere radiance is referred to as LTOA
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