Diffuse reflection coefficient of a stratified sea.
A differential equation of a Riccati type for the diffuse reflection coefficient of a stratified sea is proposed. For a homogeneous sea with arbitrary inherent optical properties this equation is solved analytically. For an inhomogeneous sea it is solved approximately for any arbitrary stratification. The resulting equation expresses the diffuse reflection coefficient of the sea through vertical profiles of absorption and backscattering coefficients, bottom albedo, and sea depth. The results of calculations with this equation are compared with Monte Carlo computations. It was found that the precision of this approach is in the range of 15%.
Haltrin
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Ocean Sciences Branch, Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7331, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529-5004, USA. haltrin@nrlssc.navy.mil