title: Radiative transfer in stratified waters: a single-scattering approximation for irradiance.
abstract: The singly scattered irradiance (SSI) model is an approximate radiative transfer model designed to describe optically shallow stratified waters. It is intended to be a tool to aid interpretation of remote (satellite or aircraft) observations of water color. The SSI model was derived in analogy to single-scattering radiance models. As it is based on irradiance (rather than radiance), multiple-scattering events are included implicitly, yielding a model which is expressed in terms of readily measurable parameters and which preserves mathematical simplicity without sacrificing many important subtleties of the radiative transfer process. The success of the SSI model relies on the underwater radiance distribution being nearly independent of sun angle, cloud cover and depth, and the resulting quasi-inherent property of the irradiance attenuation coefficient, irradiance reflectance, and distribution functions. A derivation of the model is presented, along with evidence for the qualitative and quantitative correctness of the model.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Philpot