VIIRS ocean color research and applications

In this paper, we provide evaluations and assessments of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) ocean color products, including normalized water-leaving radiance spectra nLw(λ) at VIIRS five spectral bands, chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), water diffuse attenuation coefficients at the wavelength of 490 nm, Kd(490), and at the domain of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), Kd(PAR). Specifically, VIIRS ocean color products derived from the NOAA Multi-Sensor Level-1 to Level-2 (MSL12) ocean color data processing system are evaluated and compared with in situ data from the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) and measurements from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). In general, VIIRS ocean color products are matched well with MOBY in situ measurements, and are also consistent with those from MODIS-Aqua. Ocean color products were found to be highly sensitive to some operational sensor calibration issues. We have improved sensor calibration by combining the lunar calibration into the current calibration method. Here, the ocean color products based on the new sensor calibration are evaluated. Our results show that VIIRS is capable of providing high-quality global ocean color products in support of the scientific research and operational applications.

[1]  Menghua Wang,et al.  Improved near-infrared ocean reflectance correction algorithm for satellite ocean color data processing. , 2014, Optics express.

[2]  K. Voss,et al.  Technique for monitoring performance of VIIRS reflective solar bands for ocean color data processing. , 2015, Optics express.

[3]  K. Voss,et al.  Impacts of VIIRS SDR performance on ocean color products , 2013 .

[4]  Menghua Wang,et al.  Diffuse attenuation coefficient of the photosynthetically available radiation Kd(PAR) for global open ocean and coastal waters , 2015 .

[5]  Menghua Wang,et al.  On-orbit characterization of the VIIRS solar diffuser and solar diffuser screen. , 2015, Applied optics.

[6]  Menghua Wang,et al.  Destriping algorithm for improved satellite-derived ocean color product imagery. , 2014, Optics express.

[7]  Menghua Wang,et al.  Evaluation of VIIRS ocean color products , 2014, Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing.

[8]  Junqiang Sun,et al.  An Efficient Approach for VIIRS RDR to SDR Data Processing , 2014, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters.

[9]  Menghua Wang,et al.  VIIRS reflective solar bands on-orbit calibration and performance: a three-year update , 2014, Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing.

[10]  Menghua Wang,et al.  Retrieval of water-leaving radiance and aerosol optical thickness over the oceans with SeaWiFS: a preliminary algorithm. , 1994, Applied optics.

[11]  K. Voss,et al.  Validation of atmospheric correction over the oceans , 1997 .

[12]  Gerhard Meister,et al.  On-orbit calibration of the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite for ocean color applications. , 2015, Applied optics.

[13]  Junqiang Sun,et al.  Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite solar diffuser calibration and its challenges using a solar diffuser stability monitor. , 2014, Applied optics.