Band-ratio or spectral-curvature algorithms for satellite remote sensing?

For the retrieval of chlorophyll concentrations or the total absorption coe fficients of oceanic waters based on water color, there are algorithms that use either band ratios or spectral curvatures of remote-sensing reflectanc e or water leaving radiance. We show that band-ratio algorithms have the po tential to be applied to a wider dynamic range of oceanic waters, whereas s pectral-curvature algorithms show stable performance as long as the data se t falls within the appropriate range. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America O CIS codes: 280.0280, 010.4450.