IOCCG Report Number 6, Ocean Color Data Merging

Visible Spectral Radiometry (VSR, often referred to as ocean colour) is a highly quantitative methodology that yields accurate and precise fields of an important marine geophysical variable (chlorophyll concentration) of high significance for understanding the planetary carbon cycle. It is a quantity in ocean biogeochemistry and has many other applications including management of marine resources. It provides our only window into the marine ecosystem on synoptic scales. Of particular importance is the application to climate research: chlorophyll resides in phytoplankton, which use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis leading to a potential reduction in the atmospheric concentration of this greenhouse gas. In the climate context, it is vital that a seamless time series be constructed using data from all available missions. The merged data set protects the temporal continuity of the data stream and optimises the spatial coverage.

GREGG Watson;  AIKEN James;  KWIATKOWSKA Ewa;  MARITORENA Stephane;  MELIN Frederic;  MURAKAMI Hiroshi;  PINNOCK Simon;  POTTIER Claire; 

BONTEMPI Paula; 

2007-06-11

International Ocean-Colour Coordinating Group

JRC37219