The spectral distribution of light emerging from a water body, determined by absorption and scattering by water, dissolved material, particles and sometimes the bottom. It supports remote inference of biological and optical properties.
The logarithmic rate at which downwelling spectral irradiance decreases with depth. It depends on absorption, scattering and the angular light field, rather than equaling the absorption coefficient.
Inference of chlorophyll a concentration from measured optical signals. Simple blue/green ratios rely on assumptions about covarying absorbers and scatterers; coastal mixtures can violate those assumptions.
The rate per unit path length at which light is scattered into the backward hemisphere. It influences water-leaving radiance and must be distinguished from the absorption coefficient.
The ratio of water-leaving radiance to incident downwelling irradiance just above the surface. It depends on both absorption and backscattering and has units of inverse steradian.
An optically defined non-phytoplankton particle category, including detritus and suspended mineral material. Its absorption is often strongest in the blue; scattering can also strongly affect remote-sensing reflectance.
The light-absorbing fraction of dissolved organic material. Its visible absorption commonly decreases approximately exponentially from blue to red, and can confound chlorophyll retrieval.
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