POSTER Session 1

PACE Remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) validation from the Ocean Color Instrument

The launch of the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission in February 2024 marks a significant milestone in Earth observation. The mission’s next phase revolves around validating level 2 products, with a particular focus on Remote Sensing Reflectance (Rrs) derived from the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI). OCI, a hyperspectral radiometer aboard the PACE observatory, observes radiance from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths with high spectral and spatial resolution. It includes a dedicated shortwave infrared band for atmospheric correction and aerosol/cloud retrievals, addressing a key challenge in ocean color observation—eliminating atmospheric interference. Rrs, derived post-atmospheric correction, serves as a cornerstone product for ocean color analysis, facilitating the derivation of crucial products like chlorophyll-a concentration and plankton pigments and composition. Ensuring the accuracy of Rrs is important for maintaining data integrity, evaluating instrument performance, and assessing the accuracy of atmospheric correction algorithms. This presentation outlines a comprehensive plan for Rrs validation, leveraging data collected from the AERONET-OC platforms and the PACE validation science team. The validation strategy encompasses diverse in-situ data sources, processing techniques, and robust metrics for evaluating product performance. By integrating various validation approaches, we aim to enhance confidence in Rrs data and optimize the operational effectiveness of the PACE mission in advancing our understanding of Earth’s oceanic ecosystems.

Amir Ibrahim, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3290-056X

Bryan Franz, NASA, USA

Sean Bailey, NASA, USA

Chris Proctor, NASA and Science Systems and Applications Inc. (SSAI), USA

Jeremy Werdell, NASA, USA

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