A spectra model of irradiance is presented for the computation of light energy available at the surface and at various depths in the ocean for the wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm. For any latitude, irradiances are computed as a function of geographic location, date, and time. Application of the model is demonstrated through computation of the profiles of vertical attenuation coefficient and of the effective specific absorption of phytoplankton. The model results are compared with those from conventional procedures, which disregard spectral and angular distributions of the underwater light field, for calculation of the effective specific absorption. The magnitude of the errors incurred by such simplifications is estimated and is shown to be nonnegligible and variable with solar elevation, depth, and the phytoplankon pigment concentration in the water. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1988