The polarization and directionality of the Earth reflectances (POLDER) instrument, to be launched in 1996 on the Japanese ADEOS (advanced Earth observing satellite) platform includes a channel which covers the 910 nm water vapor absorption band (near IR), as well as a channel centered at 865 nm. An estimate of the total atmospheric water vapor content can be derived from the ratio of the two reflectance measurements. In addition to the spectroscopic parameterization, the major uncertainties of this estimate result from (1) the surface reflectance spectral signature, (2) scattering by atmospheric aerosol, and (3) the water vapor vertical profile. A radiative transfer model has been developed in order to quantify these uncertainties. From radiative transfer simulations an uncertainty on the order of 10% is expected on the total water vapor amount. An airborne version of the POLDER instrument has been developed and flown over various targets. These targets include semiarid surfaces (Sahel), bog, coniferous and deciduous forest (Boreal forest), and the ocean in the glint direction. Water vapor measurements from radiosondes, concomitant with the POLDER measurements, are available for the method validation. Over water bodies with glint present, an overestimate is found, which is still not understood at present. For other surfaces the comparisons are, in general, in good agreement with the uncertainty analysis.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union