• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.311-321
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• 2007

The diffuse attenuation coefficient for down-welling irradiance $K_d({\lambda})$, which is the propagation of down-welling irradiance at wavelength ${\lambda}$ from surface to a depth (z) in the ocean, and underwater visibility are important optical parameters for ocean studies. There have been several studies on $K_d({\lambda})$ and underwater visibility around the world, but only a few studies have focused on these properties in the Korean sea. Therefore, in the present study, we studied $K_d({\lambda})$ and underwater visibility around the coastal area of the Yellow Sea, and developed $K_d({\lambda})$ and underwater visibility algorithms for ocean color satellite sensor. For this research we conducted a field campaign around the Yellow Sea from $19{\sim}22$ September, 2006 and there we obtained a set of ocean optical and environmental data. From these datasets the $K_d({\lambda})$ and underwater visibility algorithms were empirically derived and compared with the existing NASA SeaWiFS $K_d({\lambda})$ algorithm and NRL (Naval Research Laboratory) underwater visibility algorithm. Such comparisons over a turbid area showed small difference in the $K_d({\lambda})$ algorithm and constants of our result for underwater visibility algorithm showed slightly higher values.