Use of chromaticity in remote measurements of water quality

Optical cross sections (absorption and scattering per unit concentration of chlorophyll a, suspended mineral, and dissolved organic carbon) are utilized to generate subsurface irradiance reflectance spectra and upwelling irradiance spectra for a variety of water masses. Standard CIE chromaticity analyses are applied to the upwelling irradiance spectra. The results of these analyses serve as a basis for a discussion of severe restrictions in the application of chromaticity to water quality prediction.