At the interface between the ocean and the mainland, coastal waters are characterized by their high organic production. These rich and complex ecosystems are under pressure of natural and anthropogenic (i.e. human) origin that undoubtedly affect the quality of coastal waters, the preservation of which is essential for ecological, economic and societal reasons.

Monitoring and assessing the evolution of coastal waters is fundamental to identifying areas where significant changes are occurring, so as to prioritize appropriate actions for their preservation. In this context, satellite observation of the ocean now makes it possible to collect a range of physical and biological parameters on spatiotemporal scales inaccessible to traditional in situ measurements. Among the various parameters that can be observed from space, the measurement of water color provides qualitative and quantitative information on the biogeochemical composition of surface waters.