Abstract: Field measurement was taken for reflection spectrum of waterbody of Taihu Lake and for water quality of its surface layer.Based on the measurements,a water-air interface radiative transfer model was used to calculate reflectance.According to actual water quality,the lake was divided into three sections.Spectral reflectance curves of the whole lake and the three sections were analyzed and the models for inversion of concentrations of suspended substances and transparencies of these sections was established.Results show that in terms of concentration of supspended substances and transparency,the sections of the lake followed a decreasing order of East Taihu>Gonghu,Meilianghu and Zushanhu>South Taihu and West Taihu.Rational zoning of the Taihu Lake may help the research better reflect variability of the water quality of the lake and simulate water qualities of various sections of the lake.The model for sections is more accurate than that for the whole lake and generally lower in error,thus the findings would be more reliable and feasible.