Patent ID: 6868361

Claim:
A method for determining the Volume Scattering Function (VSF) of ocean waters in backward direction using a satellite ocean color sensor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining satellite view angle (θ sat ), solar angle (θ s ), remote sensed reflectance [Rrs (θ p ,λ)] and diffuse attenuation coefficient (K d ) at each ocean pixel on a scaline using a satellite ocean color sensor; (b) calculating corrected look angle of a pixel of satellite ocean color sensor on an ocean pixel using: θ p =θ sat +sin −1 (0.113 tan θ sat ); and (c) calculating the Volume Scattering Function of ocean waters in the backward direction at a given wavelength [β(ψ,λ)] using: β(ψ,λ)= Rrs (θ p ,λ) K d [cos θ s cos θ p ].