Advancing NASA's Long-Term Multi-Mission Ocean Color Data Record

The NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) recently reprocessed the multi-mission ocean color time-series from SeaWiFS (1997-2010), MERIS (2002-2012), MODIS-Aqua (2002-), and extended into the VIIRS era (2012-) using common algorithms and improved instrument calibration knowledge. Here we present an analysis of the quality and consistency of the resulting ocean color retrievals, including spectral water-leaving reflectance and chlorophyll a concentration. Statistical analysis of satellite retrievals relative to in situ measurements will be presented for each sensor, as well as an assessment of consistency in the global time-series for the overlapping periods of the missions. Results show that the satellite retrievals are in good agreement with in situ measurements, and that the global ocean color data records are highly consistent over the common mission lifespans. Finally, we present the multi-mission merged chlorophyll and chlorophyll anomaly time-series spanning over 18 years of continuous global observations.