The concentration of suspended particulate matter (C_SPM, in mg/L) determines water clarity and alters the water color. Therefore, C_SPM can be retrieved from ocean color. A globally applicable algorithm (GAA_SPM) was proposed to seamlessly C_SPM for both clear and turbid waters without any arbitrary switching in its application. GAA_SPM is based on a generalized index for SPM (GI_SPM) from water color (R_rs(λ)), which is mainly composed of three R_rs(λ) ratios along with weighting factors. The algorithm was calibrated using data collected from open ocean and coastal waters of China, Europe, South America, and the U. S.

CSPM mapping products (Yangtze Estuary)

Yu, XL; Lee, Z; Shen, F; Wang, MH; Wei, JW; Jiang, LD; Shang, ZH. An empirical algorithm to seamlessly retrieve the concentration of suspended particulate matter from water color across ocean to turbid river mouths. Remote Sensing of Environment, 2019, 235, 111491.