Cross-site consistent in situ measurements for satellite ocean color applications: the BiOMaP radiometric dataset

The development and assessment of satellite ocean color products require quality assured in situ data representative of the variety of bio-optical regimes encountered in the different seas. The measurement program named Bio-Optical mapping of Marine Properties (BiOMaP) fulfils this requirement by using identical instruments and applying cross-site consistent methods for the characterization of seawater inherent and apparent optical properties in the various European seas. This work introduces the BiOMaP radiometric data and describes their application to the validation of primary ocean color products. The radiometric data are discussed through the spectral shape and amplitude of normalized water-leaving radiances (LWN). Specifically, the spectral shape is expressed through the Principal Component Analysis of LWN(lambda) /LWN(555) while the amplitude is represented by LWN(555). The resulting distribution of BiOMaP data in a three dimensional feature space demonstrates a continuity of cases across the investigated marine regions and confirms a wide representativity of bio-optical regimes. The application of BiOMaP data to the validation of remote sensing reflectance from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), indicates improved performance of the SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS, version 6.1) atmospheric correction. In particular, the comparison of satellite and in situ matchups in the blue spectral region shows average bias differences of a few percent with respect to the tens percent reported in studies relying on earlier SeaDAS versions. Matchup analyses, restricted to the Eastern Mediterranean, Black and Baltic Seas, indicate marked regional differences likely explained by the diversity of water and aerosol types.

ZIBORDI Giuseppe;  BERTHON Jean-Francois;  MELIN Frederic;  D'ALIMONTE Davide; 

2011-06-14

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

JRC62069

0034-4257,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC62069,   

10.1016/j.rse.2011.04.013,