Abstract: The optical properties of the Yangtze Estuarine waters were discussed based on two investigations conducted respectively in August and November of 2009. It was found that the water-leaving reflectance spectra in August and November presented four types caused by different chlorophyll-a concentrations, suspended sediment concentrations and colored dissolved organic matters (CDOM). The relationships between chlorophyll-a concentration and absorption coefficient of the pigment particles were built by two ways, and two models used to simulate the reflectance spectra were established by using the parameterized optical properties, the RMSE of these models being 0.004 4 and 0.004 5, respectively. The accuracy of the model can be improved by classifying the concentrations of chlorophyll-a and suspended sediment, the RMSE was improved to 0.003 5.

Key words: remote sensing reflectance, absorption coefficient, scattering coefficient, modeling, Yangtze Estuary