Abstract:

The spatial extent of surface bio-optical properties (chlorophyll-a, backscattering, absorption, light attenuation, etc.) can be determined from changes in satellite-detected water leaving radiance (Lw), enabling a synoptic, albeit two-dimensional view of various ocean parameters on a global basis. This wider field of view enables a large-scale characterization of water properties in the sampling area, providing information that allows the sampling vessel to target key features, such as river filaments. We provide satellite-derived measurements from the Visual Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. This sensor has 7 visible/near infrared moderate resolution (M)-bands (wavelengths = 410, 443, 486, 551, 671, 745, 865 nm) at a spatial resolution of 750-m. Raw calibrated radiance products were orthorectified and processed by USM to correct for atmospheric components and obtain the radiance signal emitted from the ocean (Lw). The spectral Lw is the basis for which subsequent bio-optical algorithms are calculated.

Suggested Citation:

Robert Arnone, Inia M. Soto, Ryan Vandermeulen, Mustafa K. Cambazoglu. 2017. VIIRS Satellite Remote Sensing of Ocean Color, October-December 2015, Gulf of Mexico. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N72N509H

Publications:

Dzwonkowski, B., Greer, A. T., Briseño-Avena, C., Krause, J. W., Soto, I. M., Hernandez, F. J., … Graham, W. M. (2017). Estuarine influence on biogeochemical properties of the Alabama shelf during the fall season. Continental Shelf Research, 140, 96–109. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2017.05.001

Arnone, R. A., Jones, B., Ladner , S., & Soto, I. (2018). Seasonal trends of biophysical ocean properties and anomalies across the Mississippi Shelf . Ocean Sensing and Monitoring X. doi:10.1117/12.2309427

Purpose:

The data was developed to characterize changes in the ocean color that can be use to identify river plumes, phytoplankton blooms and other oceanic features of interest. The data was used for adaptive sampling and it was coupled with circulation models.

Data Parameters and Units:

Remote Sensing Reflectance at 410nm, 443nm, 486nm, 551nm, 671nm (Rrs; units=sr-1) Chlorophyll-a (units=mg/m3)

Methods:

Satellite ocean color imagery from the VIIRS Suomi-NPP was downloaded from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Class website (http://www.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/) and process to Level-3 at 750m resolution using the Naval Research Laboratory's Automated Processing System (APS v5.1).

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