Issues in the Integration of Research and Operational Satellite Systems for Climate Research Part I. Science and Design (2000) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Ocean Color
Ocean Color
Pages 57-67
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 57... ...
However, because coastal zones are often used as nurseries, there is particular interest in the smaller scales associated with the nearshore environments. Another objective focuses on the coastal zone itself as a buffer between human activities on the land and the deep ocean.
|
From page 58... ...
The atmospheric correction schemes have matured considerably over the past 20 years since the launch of the first ocean color sensor, the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) , on Nimbus-7.
|
From page 59... ...
However, the quality and the spatial distribution of in situ measurements have their own sources of error, so the satellite-based estimates may actually be somewhat better than would be indicated by these studies. Productivity models rely on simple estimates of quantum yield, which quantifies the conversion of absorbed light energy into chemical energy.
|
From page 60... ...
Variations in water transparency are critical to predicting the depth of the upper ocean mixed layer, as they determine how solar energy is trapped as a function of depth (Denman and Miyake, 1973~. Given that the mixed layer plays a critical role in the flux of energy between the atmosphere and the deep ocean, estimates of mixedlayer depth are important for quantifying Earth' s energy budget.
|
From page 61... ...
, which has a significant diet signal. As noted above, fluorescence represents a new measurement type, but the possibilities for improved estimates of primary productivity using fluorescence-based quantum yield look promising.
|
From page 62... ...
Aside from operational requirements, which are not the focus here, most science questions involving ocean color can tolerate some gaps in the record. Given that the dominant ocean climate signal is the ENSO, which recurs approximately every 3 to 5 years, a gap longer than about 6 months runs a serious risk of missing this critical phenomenon.
|
From page 63... ...
The fundamental set includes phytoplankton chlorophyll, CDOM, and suspended sediment. To obtain these products requires a complicated set of atmospheric correction algorithms.
|
From page 65... ...
NASA has a history of supporting research to improve data sets, although it generally focuses on data sets collected by NASA missions. The NASA/NOAA Pathfinder data sets were a notable exception, with the two agencies collaborating to produce high-quality data sets for Earth science.
|
From page 66... ...
NASA has recently started the SIMBIOS (Sensor Intercomparison and Merger for Biological and Interdisciplinary Oceanic Studies) program, which is designed to gather in situ information necessary to develop a consistent time series of ocean color from multiple satellite sensors.
|
From page 67... ...
If NPOESS planning takes 5 or 6 years, it is not clear how NASA technology will be incorporated into NPOESS. Operational missions require several years of proven spaceflight to increase confidence in the sensor design as well as demonstrate the utility of the data set.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.