Marine Science Faculty Publications
Ocean Color Continuity From VIIRS Measurements Over Tampa Bay
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2013
Keywords
MODIS, Oceans, Image color analysis, Sea measurements, Satellites, Sensors, Remote sensing
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2013.2282599
Abstract
Ocean color continuity calls for consistent observations from multiple sensors in order to establish a seamless data record to address earth science questions. Currently, both Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on the Terra and Aqua satellites are being operated well beyond their designed five-year mission life, and they have shown signs of sensor degradation. It is thus urgent to evaluate whether the most recently launched Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument (2011 to present) can provide consistent observations should MODIS instruments stop functioning. In this study, the consistency between MODIS/Aqua and VIIRS measurements over the Tampa Bay estuary ( ~ 1000 km 2 ) is assessed for remote sensing reflectance (Rrs, sr -1 ), chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chla, mg·m -3 ), and absorption coefficient of colored dissolved organic matter (ag(443), m -1 ). While Rrs was derived as a standard National Aeronautics and Space Administration product from the SeaDAS software package (reprocessing version R2013.0), Chla and ag(443) were estimated using the recently developed regional algorithms for Tampa Bay. Time-series analysis and statistics both showed that the two sensors provided consistent measurements for most products evaluated, with unbiased mean percentage differences of 25% and mean annual biases within -9% (except for one of the eight cases) for large dynamic ranges in Chla (1.0-20 mg·m -3 ) and ag(443) (0.1-1.5 m -1 ) in all four bay segments. These estimates are comparable or better than those derived from satellite-in situ comparisons, suggesting that VIIRS will provide observations consistent with MODIS, ensuring ocean color continuity and seamless data records for Tampa Bay. Such observations are crucial in establishing a long-term satellite-based water quality decision matrix for Tampa Bay.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters, v. 11, issue 5, p. 945-949
Scholar Commons Citation
Hu, Chuanmin and Le, Chengfeng, "Ocean Color Continuity From VIIRS Measurements Over Tampa Bay" (2013). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 1990.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/1990
