Suspended　sediment　concentration　(SSC)　is　one　of　the　most　important　water　quality　parameters.　After　corrected　by　6S　atmospheric　model,　the　spectral　profiles　of　water　reflectivity　of　ASTER　data　are　analyzed.　There　is　greater　difference　in　spectral　visible　and　near-infrared　bands　than　that　in　spectral　short　wave　infrared　bands.　The　higher　SSC　is,　the　larger　RR/R　G　is,　in　which　RG　and　RR　are　the　reflectivity　of　green　band　(channel　1)　and　red　band　(channel　2).　So　SSC　may　be　expressed　as　the　function　of　RR/RG:　SSC　=　f(RR/R　G).　The　quantitative　remote　sensing　model　for　estimating　SSC　in　coastal　waters　is　founded.　The　model　is　well　applied　in　coastal　waters　of　the　Yellow　River　Delta　in　China.　©　2005　IEEE.