Evaluation of SNPP VIIRS Ocean Color Products on the Louisiana Shelf (PlumeCASE Experiment)

Ocean color products of Inherent Optical Properties (IOPs) and radiances derived from the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) using the Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Automated Processing System (APS) were statistically evaluated during a two week long exercise, Buoyancy Plume Modulation of Coastal Air-Sea Exchange (PlumeCASE), in June 2015 over the Louisiana continental shelf. Coastal optical properties in this region are more complex and differ from chlorophyll-dominated waters offshore due to high sediment and CDOM content. NRL has been actively involved with NOAA STAR and the JPSS program during the past 4 years as part of the JPSS/VIIRS ocean color calibration and validation team with the goal of evaluating and reducing uncertainty in SNPP VIIRS ocean color products. VIIRS products will be evaluated using measurements of spectral above and in-water radiances along with supplemental IOPs were collected on station and underway using an above water Analytical Spectral Devices’ (ASD) handheld radiometer, in-water Satlantic Hyperpro, and profiling and towed (ScanFish) IOP packages. Both IOP packages were equipped with similar instruments including temperature, salinity, total and Color Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) absorption and beam attenuation at 9 wavelengths, backscattering at 6 wavelengths, chlorophyll fluorescence, and oxygen. These ocean color properties from SNPP VIIRS will be used to initialize a bio-physical model and for research in the support of the PlumeCASE project objectives. We are using these cruise observations to assess the accuracy of the VIIRS bio-optical algorithms and radiometric calibration. We present VIIRS bio-optical validation and calibration results from the exercise along with temporal and spatial uncertainties and effects from anomalous weather events that occurred during collection for improved SNPP VIIRS ocean color products in support of project goals. The Navy’s current assessment of SNPP VIIRS ocean color products indicates that these products are of high quality.