Shape Factors, Two-Flow Models, and the Problem of Irradiance Inversion in Estimating Optical Parameters
Abstract
The problem of the inversion of irradiance measurements for the inherent optical properties of a hydrosol such as the world ocean has been examined with the NOARL optical model. This model is a Monte Carlo simulation of the radiative transfer equation that, given the optical properties of a hydrosol, generates the zonal radiances and the commonly measured irradiances of that hydrosol. This information allows us to test the optical inversion capability of any irradiance model. We have demonstrated that the two-flow model, used often in atmospheric optics, cannot be inverted to yield the inherent backscatter coefficient of natural hydrosols due to the extreme asymmetry of the hydrosol volume scattering function. The asymmetry of the volume scattering function interacting with the radiance distribution introduces parameters called shape factors into the models for irradiance inversion. The presence of shape factors in an inverse solution. The possibilities for irradiance inversion is examined given the existence of shape factors. Reprints.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA224713
Entities
People
- Alan D. Weidemann
- Robert H. Stavn
Organizations
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro