Abstract

A Monte Carlo analysis is utilized to determine the influence of the inherent optical properties of a water mass on the solar zenith angle dependence of subsurface irradiance levels. It is shown that the proportion of scattering interactions (as represented by the scattering albedo ω) has a greater influence on this dependence than does the backscattering probability B. Several representations of direct and/or diffuse incident radiation are considered, and their effects on the solar zenith angle dependence are evaluated. Irradiance level data collected in Lake Erie are compared to the predictions of the Monte Carlo analysis.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

Diffuse reflectance of oceanic waters: its dependence on Sun angle as influenced by the molecular scattering contribution

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Determination of inherent optical properties of Lake Ontario coastal waters

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Apparent optical properties of oceanic water: dependence on the molecular scattering contribution

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