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ROMFORSK-Program for romforskning

Ground or sea based validation of Earth Care aerosol information for atmospheric correction over coastal waters.

Awarded: NOK 2.9 mill.

Remote sensing is used more and more to provide information about water constituents (chlorophyll, sediments, detritus). The major component of the satellite signal is due to atmospheric scattering and absorption. Atmospheric correction is therefore a key issue. Particularly in coastal regions, where the atmosphere-ocean system is more complex than in the open ocean, the development of atmospheric correction algorithms is challenging. Suitable assumptions about aerosol models are vital to obtain accurate atmospheric correction. CIMEL instruments in the AERONET network have been used to validate such aerosol models. In Norway, there is no CIMEL instrument, but radiance measurements with other, simpler radiance instruments (RAMSES) will be made and compared with CIMEL measurements. Retrieval and validation of data from RAMSES instruments may provide the information required to develop an accurate atmospheric correction algorithm for Norwegian waters. Instruments onboard the Earth Care satellite have been de signed to provide vertical profiles of natural and anthropogenic aerosols on a global scale. Such profiles will be validated over Norwegian coastal waters. Simultaneous retrievals of aerosols and marine parameters from SeaWiFS data have been demonstrated for the coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel, and will be validated for Norwegian coastal waters. In addition, an aerosol climatology for Norwegian waters will be established. Such a climatology is useful for anyone studying aerosols and their effe cts on the environment.

Funding scheme:

ROMFORSK-Program for romforskning