Fantoni, R, Fiorani, L, Okladnikov, IG, Palucci, A (2010). "Comparison of SeaWiFS, MODIS-Terra, MODIS-Aqua and MERIS satellites in the Southern Ocean". OPTOELECTRONICS AND ADVANCED MATERIALS-RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, 4(5), 764-768.

Abstract
Contemporary ocean color satellite radiometers provide an unprecedented insight into spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of oceanic chlorophyll-a. That information favors a deeper understanding of the atmospheric carbon dioxide sequestration by marine phytoplankton and, as a consequence, of the role of the Earth's oceans in the global carbon cycle. Nevertheless, radiometers data need to be accurate in order to be useful. In this study, the accuracy of SeaWiFS, MODIS-Terra, MODIS-Aqua and MERIS is tested both thanks to an intercomparison among those radiomers, and thanks a validation with a lidar fluorosensor. From one hand, the satellite radiometers monthly averages were in mutual agreement within their estimated accuracy (about 35%), from the other hand the mean difference between lidar fluorosensor measurements and satellite radiometers retrievals was less than 30%. In both cases larger deviations were possible in particular regions and short periods, suggesting that the chlorophyll-a bio-optical algorithms of the satellite radiometers should be calibrated in specific regions and limited periods.

DOI:

ISSN:
1842-6573