Three
independent ocean color sampling methodologies are compared to
assess the potential impact of instrumental characteristics and
environmental variability on shipboard remote-sensing reflectance
observations from the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Results
indicate that under typical field conditions, simultaneous determinations
of incident irradiance can vary by 9-18%, upwellng radiance just
above the sea surface by 8-18%, and remote-sensing reflectance
by 12-. 24%. Variations in radiometric determinations can be attributed
to varienty of environmental factors such as Sun angle, cloud
cover, wind speed, and viewing geometry; however wind speed is
isolated as the major source of uncertainty. The above-water approach
to estimating water-leaving radiance and remote-sensing reflectance
is highly influenced by environmental factors. A model of the
role of wind on the reflected sky radiance measured by an above-water
sensor illustrates that, for clear-sky conditions and wind speeds
greater than 5m/s, determinations of water-leaving at 490 nm are
undercorrected by as much as 60%. A data merging procedure is
presented to provide sky radiance correction parameters for above-water
remote-sensing reflectance estimates. The merging results are
consistant with statistical and model findings and highlight the
importance of multiple field measurements in developing quality
coastal oceanographic data sets for satellite ocean color algorithm
development and validations. ©2000 Optical Society of America.
OCIS
codes: 010.4450,280.0280
