Abstract: This paper firstly reviewed the current situat ions of applications of remote sensing techniques to inland water quality monitoring and its development process,and explored the principles and methods of applying different kinds of remotely sensed images to inland water quality monitoring.As examples,it also presented the applications of remote sensing techniques to monitoring several main variables of inland water quality,including chlorophyl-a,suspended material and dissolved yellow substances.Finally,some key problems existing in this field were discussed and some suggestions were proposed.