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
Additional supporting files
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