Effects of the suspended particle size distribution on water remote-sensing reflectance

The concentration of total suspended sediments (TSS) has often been empirically related to the above-surface remote-sensing reflectance, R_rs(λ). However, since a wide range of particle types exists in natural waters, a given TSS can often be the result of different particle size distributions (PSD). Directly relating TSS to R_rs(λ) disregards the effects of the PSD and may introduce inaccuracies in estimating TSS from R_rs(λ) measurements. This paper describes how the effects of the PSD on R_rs(λ) can be quantified for waters of various TSS, through numerical simulations. Results indicate that depending on the water types under investigation, these inaccuracies may be significant, exceeding 30% in the 500-600nm range in cleaner waters.