5. Forward Bio-optical Modeling and Calibration

Utilization of remotely sensed data can provide greater economy in many types of hydrologic surveys than using conventional methods. This is possible because certain biological and geochemical constituents of surface/near surface water produce changes in reflectance that can be measured by ocean color remote sensing. To develop analytical algorithms for Case2 waters, an optical (forward) model needs to link the water quality parameters (WQPs) to the inherent optical properties (IOPs), linking these in turn to the subsurface irradiance reflectance R(0−) for retrieval of constituent concentrations using (inverse) modeling. The goal was to establish a monitoring system for retrieval of water constituent concentrations using remote sensing ocean color data. Subsequently, chlorophyll concentration can be used as an indicator for high biomass nuisance blooms, as well as an indicator for super-eutrophic conditions connected to oxygen depletion and dead zone formation.