Water scattering characteristics are closely related to water quality parameters, such as suspended particles and their concentrations. Through the observing system of water inherent optical properties, which were developed by WETlabs Inc, the backscattering and scattering coefficients of Lake Taihu had been obtained in Oct. 2006 and Nov. 2006. Based on analysis of data, the backscattering coefficient spectra model had been established. In addition, the water refraction indexes were computed by backscattering ratio. According to the change scopes of refraction index, the dominant factors of in-water particles were divided into three categories: (1) phytoplankton; (2) inorganic particles; (3) both of the above. By analyzing the correlations between scattering coefficients with inorganic particle, organic particle and total particle concentration, the relationship between scattering coefficient and inorganic particle concentration was simulated well by power function for three different categories respectively.