黄色物质是海洋水色三组分之一。本文回顾了黄色物质定义的演变历史及其来源研究，描述了表征黄色物质光学特性的两个参数（吸收系数和比例系数S），概括了吸收系数研究的两种数学模型，即190-250nm区间的高斯模型和250-650nm区间的指数模型。高斯模型为化学方法研究黄色物质的分子结构提供了有力帮助，指数模型为光学特性和遥感应用提供了便利条件。本文提供了S值的三种数学模拟方法，结果表明带有背景参数的非线性回归方法确定S值可使平均值增加13％，相应的标准偏差降低72％。而且黄色物质的吸收系数同荧光线性关系很强。吸收系数不仅是黄色物质光学特性的表征，而且还是黄色物质遥感的基础。根据遥感器的不同特点总结了CZCS、SeaWiFS、MERIS、MODIS、GLI等遥感器的黄色物质反演模型，展望了黄色物质遥感的未来。

CDOM is one of the three-components of ocean color. The research ofCDOM has been made for\nseveral decades, this article reviews the development history of CDOMS definition and the investigation of\nsources. Absorption coefficientandSare two mi portantparameters. Twomodels for absorption byCDOM are the\nExponential model (250—650nm ) and Gaussian model (190—250nm ). Gaussian model offers a deeper\nunderstanding of chemical interaction affectingCDOMmolecular structurewhile Exponentialmodel is acceptable\nfor opticalmodeling and remote sensing applications. There are threemethods to calculateSparameter, and non-\nlinear regressionwith background parameter is the one.Thatprovides the best fitandmakes the average ofSwith\n13% mi provement and the standard deviation with 72% reduction. Furthermore there is a strong linear relation\nbetween the absorption coefficientand the fluorescence. Absorption coefficient isnotonly the opticalpropertiesof\nCDOM but the base of remote sensing. This article summarizes severalkinds of retrieval equations such as those\nfor SeaWiFS, MERIS, MODIS andGLI color sensors. The retrievalsofcolor sensorshave differentcharacteristics\nand difficulties, so the remote sensing ofCDOM is expected to bemore exact in the future.