Retrieval of biogeochemical parameters from remotely sensed data in optically complex waters such as those found in coastal zones is a challenging task due to the effects of various water constituents ( biogenic, nonalgal and inorganic particles, dissolved matter) on the radiation exiting the ocean. Since scattering by molecules, aerosols, hydrosols and reflection at the sea surface introduce and modify the polarization state of light, the polarized upward radiation contains embedded information about the intrinsic nature of aerosols and suspended matter in the ocean. In this study, shipborne above water angularly resolved visible/ near infrared multiband measurements of the degree of polarization are analysed against their corresponding in- situ biogeochemically characterized water samples for the first time. Water samples and radiometric data were collected in the English Channel along an inshore- offshore transect. Angular variations in the degree of polarization P are found to be consistent with theory. Maximum values of P are observed near the Brewster viewing angle in the specular direction. Variations in the degree of polarization at the Brewster angle ( P-B) with water content revealed that the suspended particulate matter, which is mainly composed of inorganic particles during the experiment, contributes to depolarise the skylight reflection, thus reducing PB. An empirical polarization- based approach is proposed to determine biogeochemical properties of the particles. The concentration of inorganic particles can be estimated using P-B to within +/- 13% based on the dataset used. Larger sets of polarized measurements are recommended to corroborate the tendency observed in this study. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.