Abstract
A semi-deductive method to estimate the path radiance and restore the actual sea surface radiance at lower altitude levels has been reported previously. This article discusses how to apply the method to observations of the sea at satellite levels.
In our atmospheric model it is assumed that the attenuation of radiation by the scattering is from aerosol particles and air molecules and only ozone contributes to the absorption of radiation.
It is also assumed that the whole visible path radiances can be predicted indirectly from the upwelling radiance at 670 nm. In the case that the aerosol radiance at 670 nm varies proportionally with the total aerosol content, a constant which relates them can be introduced. In the previous paper the value of this constant was determined from the sea-truth and air-truth data.
Finally this method is applied to the CZCS image of Yellow Sea for the retrieval of surface chlorophyll distribution.
