In situ measurement of the solar radiance distribution within sea ice in Liaodong Bay, China

► The physical properties of sea ice was studied in Liaodong Bay, China. ► An instrument was designed to observe the optical properties of sea ice. ► The albedos of “dirty” sea ice in Liaodong Bay was studied. ► Upwelling and downwelling irradiance extinction coefficients profiles were obtained. ► An optical model was brought forward to describe the solar radiance distribution.