Regular papers

Methods in reducing surface reflected glint for shipborne above-water remote sensing

Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment - Terramare, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Schleusenstraße 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany

^* shungu.garaba@uni-oldenburg.de

Received: 4 July 2013
Revised: 23 July 2013
Accepted: 16 August 2013

Abstract

Surface reflected glint is a curse for ocean color remote sensing from above-water platforms. In calibrated above-water shipborne radiometry, there are several surface reflected glint correction approaches widely implemented. These approaches were developed using radiative transfer simulations and/or field measurements in different water types, sea states, and cloud conditions. To date no particular surface reflected glint correction approach has been prescribed in ocean optics standard protocols. Without synoptic inherent optical properties to accurately determine apparent optical properties, glint correction is therefore rather qualitative or subjective. There is need to fully take inventory of uncertainties resulting from such differences. We look at different methods that have been implemented in calibrated shipborne radiometry and how surface reflected glint is corrected for using these available approaches. Field measurements are utilized to assess how the correction approaches perform under clear and overcast skies, we also elucidate on aspects for further improvements.