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Atmospheric correction estimates surface-related optical signals from observations that also contain atmospheric absorption and scattering. A satellite receives radiation scattered toward it along the path as well as radiation transmitted from the surface, so correcting only for a multiplicative loss is generally insufficient.

For ocean observations, the retrieval must account for atmospheric path contributions, transmission and relevant surface effects before estimating water-leaving radiance and remote-sensing reflectance. Its assumptions are tested against reference observations or independent atmospheric information. Cloud contamination and an incorrect scattering model can create false surface features, even when the detector calibration is accurate.^[ref]