A compilation of global bio-optical in situ data for ocean-colour satellite applications

A compiled set of in situ data is important to evaluate the quality of ocean-colour satellite data records. Here we describe the data compiled for the validation of the ocean-colour products from the ESA Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI). The data were acquired from several sources (MOBY, BOUSSOLE, AERONET-OC, SeaBASS, NOMAD, MERMAID, AMT, ICES, HOT, GEPCO), spans between 1997 and 2012, and have a global distribution. Observations of the following variables were compiled: spectral remote-sensing reflectances, concentrations of chlorophyll-a, spectral inherent optical properties and spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients. The data were from multi-project archives acquired via the open internet services or from individual projects, acquired directly from data providers. Methodologies were implemented for homogenisation, quality control and merging of all data. No changes were made to the original data, other than averaging of observations that were close in time and space, elimination of some points after quality control and conversion to a standard format. The final result is a merged table designed for validation of satellite-derived ocean-colour products and available in text format. Metadata of each in situ measurement (original source, cruise or experiment, principal investigator) were propagated throughout the work and made available in the final table. Using all the data in a validation exercise increases the number of matchups and enhances the representativeness of different marine regimes. By making available the metadata, it is also possible to analyse each set of data separately.

VALENTE Andre;  SATHYENDRANATH Shubha;  BROTAS V.;  GROOM Steve;  GRANT M.;  TABERNER Malcolm;  ARNONE Robert;  ANTOINE D.;  BALCH William;  BARKER Kathryn;  BARLOW Ray;  BÉLANGER Simon;  BERTHON Jean-Francois;  BESIKTEPE Sukru;  BRANDO Vittorio;  CANUTI Elisabetta;  CHAVEZ Francisco;  CLAUSTRE Hervé;  CROUT Richard;  FROUIN Robert;  GARCÍA-SOTO Carlos;  GIBB Stuart;  GOULD Richard;  HOOKER Stanford;  KLEIN Holger;  KRATZER S;  LOISEL Hubert;  MCKEE David;  MITCHELL Brian;  KAHRU Mati;  MOISAN Tiffany;  MULLER-KARGER Frank;  O’DOWD Leonie;  ONDRUSEK Michael;  POULTON Alex;  REPECAUD Michel;  SMYTH Tim;  SOSIK Heidi;  TWARDOWSKI Michael;  VOSS Kenneth;  WERDELL P.J.;  WERNAND Marcel;  ZIBORDI Giuseppe; 

2016-09-23

COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH

JRC98129

1866-3508,   

www.earth-syst-sci-data.net/8/235/2016/,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC98129,   

10.5194/essd-8-235-2016,