Properties of the water column and bottom derived from Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data

Using Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data as an ex ample, we show in this study that the properties of the water column and bo ttom of a large, shallow area can be adequately retrieved using a model-dri ven optimization technique. The simultaneously derived properties include b ottom depth, bottom albedo, and water absorption and backscattering coeffic ients, which in turn could be used to derive concentrations of chlorophyll, dissolved organic matter, and suspended sediments in the water column. The derived bottom depths were compared with a bathymetry chart and a boat sur vey and were found to agree very well. Also, the derived bottom albedo imag e shows clear spatial patterns, with end-members consistent with sand and s eagrass. The image of absorption and backscattering coefficients indicates that the water is quite horizontally mixed, Without bottom corrections, chl orophyll a retrievals were similar to 50 mg m(-3), while the retrievals aft er bottom corrections were tenfold less, approximating real values. These r esults suggest that the model and approach used work very well for the retr ieval of subsurface properties of shallow-water environments even for rathe r turbid environments like Tampa Bay, Florida.