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Ocean colour remote sensing is commonly used in understand the composition of constituents both suspended in the water column and underneath the water column in shallow waters. With remote sensing, the biological or physical variables are measured within the environment (in situ). This is opposed to collecting samples for analysis in the lab.

When measuring optical properties in the water column, sensors are either active or passive.

Models of Water Colour

When deriving biophysical measurements from water colour measurements, there are three common approaches to represent the relationship. The simplest is an empirical model, which is based on an assumption of an biophysical variable's optical characteristic. The next two, semi-analytical and analytical, are grounded in defined optical characteristics of the water characteristics. These used defined optical characteristics are referred to as inherent optical properties (IOP).

Common Techniques

Satellite Remote Sensing

Need to handle atmospheric correction.

Broken down into three major fields

1. Open ocean
2. Coastal or inland optically deep
3. Optically shallow waters

CZCS, SeaWiFS, MODIS/Aqua, MERIS

Fluorescence Sensors

Chlorophyll-a

both passive and active.