NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
OCTS and SeaWiFS Bio-Optical Algorithm and Product Validation and Intercomparison in US Coastal WatersMonitoring the health of US coastal waters is an important goal of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Satellite sensors are capable of providing daily synoptic data of large expanses of the US coast. Ocean color sensors, in particular, can be used to monitor the water quality of coastal waters on an operational basis. To appraise the validity of satellite-derived measurements, such as chlorophyll concentration, the bio-optical algorithms used to derive them must be evaluated in coastal environments. Towards this purpose, over 21 cruises in diverse US coastal waters have been conducted. Of these 21 cruises, 12 have been performed in conjunction with and under the auspices of the NASA/Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies (SIMBIOS) Project. The primary goal of these cruises has been to obtain in-situ measurements of downwelling irradiance, upwelling radiance, and chlorophyll concentrations in order to evaluate bio-optical algorithms that estimate chlorophyll concentration. In this Technical Memorandum, we evaluate the ability of five bio-optical algorithms, including the current Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) algorithm, to estimate chlorophyll concentration in surface waters of the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). The SAB consists of a variety of environments including coastal and continental shelf regimes, Gulf Stream waters, and the Sargasso Sea. The biological and optical characteristics of the region is complicated by temporal and spatial variability in phytoplankton composition, primary productivity, and the concentrations of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and suspended sediment. As such, the SAB is an ideal location to test the robustness of algorithms for coastal use.
Document ID
20020016071
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Brown, Christopher W.
(National Environmental Satellite Service Camp Springs, MD United States)
Subramaniam, Ajit
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD United States)
Culver, Mary
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Charleston, SC United States)
Brock, John C.
(Geological Survey Saint Petersburg, FL United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: SIMBIOS Project
Subject Category
Oceanography
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-97879
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Document Inquiry

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available