GMES Sentinel-3: Mission Overview and Aspects of the Calval Plan for itsOptical Payload

摘要

The European Union-ESA Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme decided to develop the Sentinels as first series of operational satellites in order to meet specific Earth observation user needs. The series of Sentinel-3 satellites will provide global, frequent and near-realtime ocean, ice and land monitoring. It continues Envisat's altimetry, the multispectral, medium-resolution visible and infrared ocean and land-surface observations of ERS, Envisat and Spot, and includes enhancements to meet the operational revisit requirements and to facilitate new products and evolution of services. The first launch is expected in 2013.In this paper an outline of the Sentinel-3 satellite and optical payload is presented. Dedicated calibration and validation activities regarding the sea and land surface temperature radiometer (SLSTR) and ocean and land colour radiometer (OLCI) are then reviewed. Calibration and validation (calval) activities are based on the heritage gained from ENVISAT MERIS and AATSR experience and cover pre-launch, in-orbit commissioning and operational measures for the Sentinel 3 satellites.