Seminars

Seminar Abstract

Remote sensing of optically active marine components: a semi-analytical forward modelling approach for coastal waters off Plymouth, UK

Remote sensing is an efficient tool to monitor the aquatic ecology. The optical signature in coastal marine environment is a reflection of the complex distribution of optically active marine components. It is essential to understand the relationship between the remote sensing signal and marine constituent material to take advantage of high resolution remote sensing data available from spaceborne and airborne platforms.

The objective of this research was to develop a semi-analytical forward model to predict the remote sensing optical signature in coastal waters. Laboratory and in situ measurements collected over a 5 year period (1998-2003) were used to compile a biogeooptical database for coastal waters. The database is exploited to realise various biogeophysical relationships. A major advancement proposed in the thesis towards the modelling of backscattering probability was the synthesis of knowledge from Mie theory and particulate composition from geochemical analysis. This approach was used to derive particulate backscattering from in situ absorption and attenuation measurements.

Results show that this model can produce backscattering values in a realistic way than with a constant value as proposed by Petzold. Absorption and backscattering values derived from ac-9 measurements were used to calculate radiance reflectance and remote sensing reflectance. The biogeophysical relationships developed were incorporated into the forward optics model to successfully simulate the inherent optical property ratio.

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CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
To schedule a seminar, contact:
Karen Wild-Allen, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5010
Piers Dunstan, (Biological seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5382
Annabel Ozimec (seminar administrator) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5462
Sandra Zicus, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 7888 & Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2509