Atmospheric correction of coastal zone color scanner data : considerations about the theoretical and the practical approach

The background for the atmospheric correction of Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) data has been investigated. In these studies the necessary optical properties of the atmosphere and of the water surfaces are defined and the general radiative transfer equation is derived and applied to the actual situation with a satellite sensor viewing the ocean surface. From the radiative transfer processes a practical approach to atmospheric correction is explained. In this approach an estimate of the atmospheric influence can be made when additional data is applied to the satellite data. Methods for applying this data are discussed. The practical approach to atmospheric correction is furthermore illustrated by processing of two examples describing two different atmospheri c conditions. The processing indicates high sensitivity to input parameters, especially to the wavelength dependence of the aerosol optical thickness.