This paper proposes a number of analytical approximations to the classic and recently measured seawater light scattering phase functions. The three types of analytical phase functions are derived: individual representations for 15 Petzold, 41 Mankovsky, and 91 Gulf of Mexico phase functions; collective fits to Petzold phase functions; and analytical representations that take into account dependencies between inherent optical properties of seawater. The proposed phase functions may be used for problems of radiative transfer, remote sensing, visibility and image propagation in natural waters of various turbidity.

Date Published: 9 November 2004
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 5544, Remote Sensing and Modeling of Ecosystems for Sustainability, (9 November 2004); doi: 10.1117/12.558313

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5544:
Remote Sensing and Modeling of Ecosystems for Sustainability
Wei Gao; David R. Shaw, Editor(s)