Inelastic scattering in ocean water and its impact on trace gas retrievals from satellite data

Over clear ocean waters, photons scattered within the water body contribute significantly to the upwelling flux. In addition to elastic scattering, inelastic Vibrational Raman Scattering (VRS) by liquid water is also playing a role and can have a strong impact on the spectral distribution of the outgoing radiance. Under clear-sky conditions, VRS has an influence on trace gas retrievals from space-borne measurements of the backscattered radiance such as from e. g. GOME (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment). The effect is particularly important for geo-locations with small solar zenith angles and over waters with low chlorophyll concentration.