Sea foam reflectance and influence on optimum wavelength for remote sensing of ocean aerosols

According to previous investigations, sea foam is a major variable in the accurate determination of aerosol turbidity over the oceans with remote‐sensing systems. As a result, tests have been conducted to measure sea foam reflectance at wavelengths from 0.55 µm to 2.8 µm. Data from the tests offer an improved knowledge of the effects of sea foam on radiation upwelled from the ocean surface at near‐infrared wavelengths. Application of the new data suggests potential for a 40 percent improvement in signal to noise characteristics of aerosol measurements over the oceans if a 1.56 µm waveband is used instead of 0.75 µm.