Applications of satellite ocean color products

摘要

In this paper, we provide an overview of ocean color products derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP), which was launched on October 28, 2011. VIIRS ocean color products include normalized water-leaving radiance spectra nL_w(λ) at VIIRS five spectral bands, chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), water diffuse attenuation coefficients at the wavelength of 490 nm, K_d(490), and at the domain of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), K_d(PAR). In addition, new products of nL_w(λ) at VIIRS I-band 638 nm nL_w(638) and QA Score are now included. VIIRS ocean color products derived from the Multi-Sensor Level-1 to Level-2 (MSL12) ocean color data processing system are evaluated and compared routinely with in situ data from the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) and several AERONET-OC sites. Our evaluation results show that VIIRS has been providing high-quality global ocean color products in support of scientific research and operational applications. Some application examples using satellite ocean color data are provided. VIIRS-derived ocean color data can be used for water property monitoring and evaluation, habitat characterization, and refining stock assessments.