Comparison between an analytical and Monte Carlo hyperspectral reflectance model for coastal remote sensing

This paper describes an analytical 2 flow equations solution and compares it to a Monte Carlo model of the photon flux in water. Both models are designed to generate synthetic water surface reflectance signatures as well as the vertical profiles of light in a homogeneous or non-homogeneous water column of specified depth and bottom reflectance. In this paper we compare and contrast the results of the models and develop a theoretically based attenuation function of both models. The results from the Monte Carlo model are used to compare a form of a 2(nd) order attenuation term (Psi), resulting from a solution of the 2-flow equation, to 3 downwelling irradiance dependent terms. The results show that Psi differs from the three terms by 1 to 14 percent depending on the scattering to absorption ratio and volume scattering function. The results also show that Psi is dependent on the shape factor (an apparent optical property dependent on both the shape of the volume scattering function and the distribution of the surrounding light field).