ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the optical remote sensing of sea properties: chlorophyll content, turbidity, land/water boundaries, bathymetric seafloor biota, and oil slicks. The need for absolute calibrated measurements of these properties is emphasized, whereby the bulk absorption and scattering properties of the sea may be deduced despite the disturbing effects of the sea surface wave structure and the absorption and scattering properties of the atmosphere. Two atmospheric models are discussed (LOWSUN and the Dave radiative transfer model) to permit correction for atmospheric effects. The Cox and Munk representation of sea surface wave slope probability is also considered for optical modeling of reflection from the sea surface.
