Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Validation of Ocean Color Remote Sensing Reflectance Using Autonomous Floats

Gregory P. Gerbi Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York

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Emmanuel Boss University of Maine, Orono, Maine

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P. Jeremy Werdell NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Christopher W. Proctor NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Science Systems and Applications, Inc., Lanham, Maryland

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Nils Haëntjens University of Maine, Orono, Maine

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Marlon R. Lewis Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Satlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Keith Brown Satlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Diego Sorrentino Satlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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J. Ronald V. Zaneveld WET Labs, Philomath, Oregon

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Andrew H. Barnard WET Labs, Philomath, Oregon

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John Koegler WET Labs, Philomath, Oregon

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Hugh Fargher Teledyne Webb Research, North Falmouth, Massachusetts

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Matthew DeDonato Teledyne Webb Research, North Falmouth, Massachusetts

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William Wallace Teledyne Webb Research, North Falmouth, Massachusetts

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Print Publication:
01 Nov 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-16-0067.1
Page(s):
2331–2352
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Abstract

The use of autonomous profiling floats for observational estimates of radiometric quantities in the ocean is explored, and the use of this platform for validation of satellite-based estimates of remote sensing reflectance in the ocean is examined. This effort includes comparing quantities estimated from float and satellite data at nominal wavelengths of 412, 443, 488, and 555 nm, and examining sources and magnitudes of uncertainty in the float estimates. This study had 65 occurrences of coincident high-quality observations from floats and MODIS Aqua and 15 occurrences of coincident high-quality observations floats and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The float estimates of remote sensing reflectance are similar to the satellite estimates, with disagreement of a few percent in most wavelengths. The variability of the float–satellite comparisons is similar to the variability of in situ–satellite comparisons using a validation dataset from the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY). This, combined with the agreement of float-based and satellite-based quantities, suggests that floats are likely a good platform for validation of satellite-based estimates of remote sensing reflectance.

Corresponding author address: Gregory P. Gerbi, Physics Department, Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. E-mail: ggerbi@skidmore.edu

Abstract

The use of autonomous profiling floats for observational estimates of radiometric quantities in the ocean is explored, and the use of this platform for validation of satellite-based estimates of remote sensing reflectance in the ocean is examined. This effort includes comparing quantities estimated from float and satellite data at nominal wavelengths of 412, 443, 488, and 555 nm, and examining sources and magnitudes of uncertainty in the float estimates. This study had 65 occurrences of coincident high-quality observations from floats and MODIS Aqua and 15 occurrences of coincident high-quality observations floats and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). The float estimates of remote sensing reflectance are similar to the satellite estimates, with disagreement of a few percent in most wavelengths. The variability of the float–satellite comparisons is similar to the variability of in situ–satellite comparisons using a validation dataset from the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY). This, combined with the agreement of float-based and satellite-based quantities, suggests that floats are likely a good platform for validation of satellite-based estimates of remote sensing reflectance.

Corresponding author address: Gregory P. Gerbi, Physics Department, Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. E-mail: ggerbi@skidmore.edu
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