Measuring algal fluorescence from space in optically complex coastal waters

The complexity of the relationship between chlorophyll concentration and sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SICF) in coastal waters and shelf sea waters is explored using advanced radiative transfer simulations and recent estimates of material-specific inherent optical properties obtained from coastal waters using state-of-the-art in-situ instrumentation. The aim is to systematically analyze the influence of non-algal materials on SICF signals and determine the potential performance of the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer fluorescence line height algorithm for coastal waters. If the light field is subject to non-algal influence, then so is the chlorophyll fluorescence signal, which means that users of remote sensing products based on SICF should be aware of the potential influence of nonalgal materials and be careful in interpreting such products from turbid coastal waters