Tuz Gölü site Characteristics

The Tuz Gölü site does demonstrate some challenges for being used as an absolute calibration site. These include: spatial and temporal variability on the order of +/− 0.02, atmospheric transmittance variability on the order of between 0.52 and 0.86 at 380 nm, lower spectral reflectance levels of less than 0.10 in the longer wavelengths, and limitations on the site availability (only two month period in summer). But, with each successful campaign made at this location, these challenges are being overcome and site characteristics have become better understood and techniques for compensation are being devised. With proper techniques, instrumentation, and coincident data collection this site remains a viable candidate as a vicarious calibration site for optical imaging sensors.