Optical water quality model of Lake Ontario. 1: Determination of the optical cross sections of organic and inorganic particulates in Lake Ontario

A five-component optical model of Lake Ontario is discussed in terms of unique organics (as represented by chlorophyll a), unique inorganics (as represented by total suspended minerals), unique nonliving organics, and unique dissolved organics. Direct measurements of the irradiance attenuation coefficient K(0), the diffuse reflectance R(0), and the total atttenuation coefficient c are used in conjunction with simulated solutions of the radiative transfer equations to determine the inherent optical properties of the water masses. Multiple regressions between these inherent optical properties and directly measured water quality data are then performed to determine the absorption, scattering, and backscattering cross sections of the organic and inorganic components.