Effects of Nonuniform Vertical Profiles of Suspended Particles on Remote Sensing Reflectance of Turbid Water

The in situ data and forward radiative transfer model were applied to simulate the nonuniform vertical profiles of suspended particles in turbid Poyang Lake. The sensitivity of remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) associated with nonuniform water column showed correlation with suspended particulate matter (SPM), wavelength and water depth. Different nonuniform vertical profiles could cause more than 108% overestimation or 60% underestimation of Rrsat most. The uncertainties in Rrsdecreased with the increase of water depth. The sensitive wavelength moved to longer wavelength and the maximum influence water depth let up, along with the increase in concentration of SPM in surface water. A dimensionless parameter made up of beam attenuation coefficient of surface water, water depth and SPM vertical distribution, was established to quantitatively describe the effects of vertically nonuniform water column on Rrs.