Thesis

Spectral matching by radiative transfer theory : a physics-based approach to marine remote sensing

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Creator
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2012
Thesis identifier
  • T13477
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • The propagation of natural light in turbid media (including seawater) is determined by both the conditions of illumination and the inherent optical properties of the medium. The illumination conditions include solar angle, degree of cloud cover and sea state, while the relevant inherent optical properties are the spectral coefficients of absorption and scattering and the scattering phase function. These inherent optical properties are functions of seawater composition, including the concentrations of phytoplankton, suspended minerals and dissolved organic substances. Given knowledge of the concentrations of these materials and their specific optical crosssections, the reflectance of a water body can be calculated using radiative transfer theory. However the inverse process, the determination of constituent concentrations from reflectance, is not directly soluble. This problem of reflectance inversion is at the heart of remote sensing of oceanic processes using satellite borne radiometers, and its solution is of great significance in modern oceanography, planetary science and climate change modelling. The hypothesis underlying this thesis is that the inversion of remote sensing signals can be achieved by a process of spectral matching, in which the water-leaving radiance spectra observed from space are compared with a database of spectra calculated using radiance transfer theory for water columns of known composition. This thesis has sought to implement a comprehensive look-up table (LUT) that can be expediently interrogated using a simple inversion algorithm that can be easily adapted to new datasets.
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  • Strathclyde theses - ask staff. Thesis no. : T13477
DOI
Date Created
  • 2012
Former identifier
  • 991384

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