Coastal zone observations by a hyperspectral or multispectral imager in geostationary orbit

摘要

Observations of coastal waters require high spectral and radiometric resolution, as compared to land, and high spatial resolution, as compared to the open ocean. An imaging instrument in geostationary orbit with a nominal aperture diameter of one meter in the spectral region from 400 - 1000 nm, ould meet these requirements on demand, over a large area of the Earth's surface. Observations made during daylight hours using filter wheel technology and large 2-D silicon focal plane arrays can achieve these objectives at reasonable coverage rates. Polarization-sensitive measurements would allow this instrument to optimize its observations of water-leaving radiance and to better compensate for atmospheric background. This instrument can be fabricated with existing technology.