An Example Crossover Experiment for Testing New Vicarious Calibration Techniques for Satellite Ocean Color Radiometry

Kenneth J. Voss Physics Department, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida

Search for other papers by Kenneth J. Voss in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Scott McLean Dalhousie University, and Satlantic Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Search for other papers by Scott McLean in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Marlon Lewis Dalhousie University, and Satlantic Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Search for other papers by Marlon Lewis in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Carol Johnson Optical Technology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Search for other papers by Carol Johnson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Stephanie Flora Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing, California

Search for other papers by Stephanie Flora in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Michael Feinholz Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing, California

Search for other papers by Michael Feinholz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mark Yarbrough Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing, California

Search for other papers by Mark Yarbrough in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Charles Trees NATO Undersea Research Centre, La Spezia, Italy

Search for other papers by Charles Trees in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Mike Twardowski * WET Labs, Inc., Narragansett, Rhode Island

Search for other papers by Mike Twardowski in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Dennis Clark DBA Marine Optical Consulting, Arnold, Maryland, and the Joint NIST/Utah State University Program in Optical Sensor Calibration, Utah State University Research Foundation, Logan, Utah

Search for other papers by Dennis Clark in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

Abstract

Vicarious calibration of ocean color satellites involves the use of accurate surface measurements of water-leaving radiance to update and improve the system calibration of ocean color satellite sensors. An experiment was performed to compare a free-fall technique with the established Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) measurement. It was found in the laboratory that the radiance and irradiance instruments compared well within their estimated uncertainties for various spectral sources. The spectrally averaged differences between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) values for the sources and the instruments were <2.5% for the radiance sensors and <1.5% for the irradiance sensors. In the field, the sensors measuring the above-surface downwelling irradiance performed nearly as well as they had in the laboratory, with an average difference of <2%. While the water-leaving radiance Lw calculated from each instrument agreed in almost all cases within the combined instrument uncertainties (approximately 7%), there was a relative bias between the two instrument classes/techniques that varied spectrally. The spectrally averaged (400–600 nm) difference between the two instrument classes/techniques was 3.1%. However, the spectral variation resulted in the free-fall instruments being 0.2% lower at 450 nm and 5.9% higher at 550 nm. Based on the analysis of one matchup, the bias in Lw was similar to that observed for Lu(1 m) with both systems, indicating the difference did not come from propagating Lu(1 m) to Lw.

Corresponding author address: Kenneth J. Voss, Physics Department, University of Miami, Room 304, 1320 Campo Sano Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33146. Email: voss@physics.miami.edu

Abstract

Vicarious calibration of ocean color satellites involves the use of accurate surface measurements of water-leaving radiance to update and improve the system calibration of ocean color satellite sensors. An experiment was performed to compare a free-fall technique with the established Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) measurement. It was found in the laboratory that the radiance and irradiance instruments compared well within their estimated uncertainties for various spectral sources. The spectrally averaged differences between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) values for the sources and the instruments were <2.5% for the radiance sensors and <1.5% for the irradiance sensors. In the field, the sensors measuring the above-surface downwelling irradiance performed nearly as well as they had in the laboratory, with an average difference of <2%. While the water-leaving radiance Lw calculated from each instrument agreed in almost all cases within the combined instrument uncertainties (approximately 7%), there was a relative bias between the two instrument classes/techniques that varied spectrally. The spectrally averaged (400–600 nm) difference between the two instrument classes/techniques was 3.1%. However, the spectral variation resulted in the free-fall instruments being 0.2% lower at 450 nm and 5.9% higher at 550 nm. Based on the analysis of one matchup, the bias in Lw was similar to that observed for Lu(1 m) with both systems, indicating the difference did not come from propagating Lu(1 m) to Lw.

Corresponding author address: Kenneth J. Voss, Physics Department, University of Miami, Room 304, 1320 Campo Sano Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33146. Email: voss@physics.miami.edu

Save
  • Antoine, D. A., Guevel P. , Desté J-F. , Bécu G. , Louis F. , Scott A. J. , and Bardey P. , 2008: The “BOUSSOLE” buoy—A new transparent-to-swell taut mooring dedicated to marine optics: Design, tests, and performance at sea. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 25 , 968989.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Brown, S. W., and Coauthors, 2007: The Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) radiometric calibration and uncertainty budget for ocean color satellite sensor vicarious calibration. Sensors, Systems, Next-Generation Satellites XI, R. Meynart et al., Eds., International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 6744), 10.1117/12.737400.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Clark, D. K., Gordon H. R. , Voss K. J. , Ge Y. , Broenkow W. , and Trees C. C. , 1997: Validation of atmospheric correction over the oceans. J. Geophys. Res., 102 , 1720917217.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Clark, D. K., Feinholz M. E. , Yarbrough M. A. , Johnson B. C. , Brown S. W. , Kim Y. S. , and Barnes R. A. , 2002: Overview of the radiometric calibration of MOBY. Earth Observing Systems VI, W. L. Barnes, Ed., International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 4484), 64–76.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Clark, D. K., and Coauthors, 2003: MOBY, a radiometric buoy for performance monitoring and vicarious calibration of satellite ocean color sensors: Measurement and data analysis protocols. Ocean optics protocols for satellite ocean color sensor validation, Revision 4, NASA Tech. Memo. NASA/TM-2003-211621/Rev4-Vol.VI, J. L. Mueller, G. S. Fargion, and C. R. McClain, Eds., NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, 3–34.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Claustre, H., Morel A. , Babin M. , Cailliau C. , Marie D. , Marty J-C. , and Vaulot D. , 1999: Variability in particle attenuation and stimulated fluorescence in the tropical and equatorial Pacific: Scales, patterns and some biogeochemical implications. J. Geophys. Res., 104 , 34013422.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Cullen, J. J., Lewis M. R. , Davis C. O. , and Barber R. T. , 1992: Photosynthetic characteristics and estimated growth rates indicate grazing is the proximate control of primary production in the equatorial Pacific. J. Geophys. Res., 97 , 639654.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Feinholz, M. E., Flora S. J. , Yarbrough M. A. , Lykke K. R. , Brown S. W. , Johnson B. C. , and Clark D. K. , 2009: Stray light correction of the Marine Optical System. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 26 , 5773.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Gardner, W. D., Chung S. P. , Richardson M. J. , and Walsh I. D. , 1995: The oceanic mixed-layer pump. Deep-Sea Res. II, 42 , 757775.

  • Hooker, S. B., McLean S. , Sherman J. , Small M. , Lazin G. , Zibordi G. , and Brown J. W. , 2002: The Seventh SeaWiFS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-7), March 1999. NASA Tech. Memo. NASA/TM-2002-206892/VOL17, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 78 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Morel, A., and Maritorena S. , 2001: Bio-optical properties of oceanic waters: A reappraisal. J. Geophys. Res., 106 , 71637180.

  • Mueller, J., 2007: Self-shading corrections for MOBY upwelling radiance measurements. Final Rep., NOAA Grant NA04NESS4400007, 33 pp. [Available online at http://moby.mlml.calstate.edu/sites/default/files/2007_NOAA_Self-Shading%20Corrections%20for%20MOBY.pdf].

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Mueller, J., and Coauthors, 2003: Ocean optics protocols for satellite ocean color sensor validation. NASA Tech. Memo. NASA-TM-2003-21621/Rev4-Vol II, 63 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Siegel, D. A., Dickey T. D. , Washburn L. , Hamilton M. K. , and Mitchell B. G. , 1989: Optical determination of particulate abundance and production variations in the oligotrophic ocean. Deep-Sea Res., 36 , 211222.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Walker, J. H., Saunders R. D. , and Hattenburg A. T. , 1987: NBS measurement services: Spectral radiance calibrations. National Bureau of Standards Special Publ. 250-1, 68 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Waters, K., Smith R. C. , and Lewis M. R. , 1990: Avoiding ship-induced light-field perturbation in the determination of oceanic optical properties. Oceanography, 3 , 1821.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zaneveld, J. R. V., Boss E. , and Barnard A. , 2001: Influence of surface waves on measured and modeled irradiance profiles. Appl. Opt., 40 , 14421449.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zaneveld, J. R. V., Barnard A. H. , and Boss E. , 2005: Theoretical derivation of the depth average of remotely sensed optical parameters. Opt. Express, 13 , 90529061.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zibordi, G., and Darecki M. , 2006: Immersion factors for the RAMSES series of hyper-spectral underwater radiometers. J. Opt., A8 , 252258.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Zibordi, G., D’Alimonte D. , and Berthon J-F. , 2004: An evaluation of depth resolution requirements for optical profiling in coastal waters. J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol., 21 , 10591073.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 538 116 17
PDF Downloads 177 57 2