Does water with sediments suspended in it have a higher or lower reflectance?

Water with sediments suspended in it typically exhibits higher reflectance compared to clear water. This increase in reflectance occurs because the presence of sediment particles enhances the scattering of light. When light hits the water, some of it is absorbed and some is reflected back to the observer.

In clear water, the absorption of light is significant, especially in deeper water bodies. However, with the introduction of suspended sediments, the particles act to scatter the incoming light, causing more light to be reflected back into the atmosphere. This is why turbid water, which contains a higher concentration of suspended sediments, often appears lighter or brighter than clear water.

The presence of sediments effectively interacts with the light, creating a condition where reflectance is increased, which is critical in remote sensing applications for differentiating water bodies or assessing quality and composition based on their reflectance characteristics.