The Application of Remote Spectral Measurements to Water Quality Monitoring

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Abstract
The apparent spectral reflectance over a water body measured by some remote means, such as an air-borne spectrograph, consists of three basic components. These are: the volume reflectance of the water, a reflected component from the water surface and a component due to atmospheric backscatter. However, it is only the volume reflectance which contains information which can be related to the in situ properties of the water body. A model is presented which defines in detail these principal components. Essentially the model illustrates the methodology whereby the volume reflectance function Rv (Λ) can be extracted from the apparent reflectance data. The volume reflectance function Rv (Λ) can then be expressed as a generalized colour index Kij = Rv (Λi)/Rv (Λj). These colour indices conveniently display and quantify the subtle colour characteristics of a water mass. These quantified colour indices are intrinsic optical parameters which may be directly related to the water quality. In addition, other evidence is presented which shows the value of the colour index concept as a water quality surveillance parameter.

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