ABSTRACTS

Oral Session 9 | Thursday, October 6, 10:00–10:20 | Abstract 619

Fiducial Reference Measurements for Satellite Ocean Colour (FRM4SOC) Phase 2

Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRM) are a suite of independent, fully characterised, and metrologically traceable ground measurements that follow the guidelines outlined by the Quality Assurance Framework for Earth Observation (QA4EO) of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). These FRM provide the maximum return on investment for Copernicus satellite missions by delivering, to users, the required confidence in data products as independent validation results and associated uncertainties on both ground-based and satellite measurements over the entire duration of a mission. In 2016 – 2019, European Space Agency funded the first phase of the FRM4SOC (Fiducial Reference Measurements for Satellite Ocean Colour) project to improve ocean colour validation through a series of proof-of-concept tasks. The FRM4SOC Phase 2–funded by the European Commission–was launched by EUMETSAT in April 2021 with the goal to consolidate what was achieved during FRM4SOC by generating operational calibration and characterisation guidelines for ocean colour (OC) radiometers, in-field measurement guidelines and seeking engagement of the global community. Studies by FRM4SOC confirm that traceability of in situ measurements to the international system of units (SI) with related uncertainty evaluation is crucial in producing reliable remote sensing OC data. An overview of the main outcomes from the FRM4SOC Phase 2 – measurement guidelines, procedures and datasets to set up a network of FRM-certified OC radiometers, a community processor for standardised radiometric field data with FRM uncertainty propagation, dedicated comparison measurements, and Copernicus Database for in situ OC measurements, are presented.

Riho Vendt, University of Tartu, 0000-0003-3740-0772

Agnieszka Bialek, National Physical Laboratory

Carsten Brockmann, Brockmann Consult GmbH

Christophe Lerebourg, ACRI-ST

Kevin Ruddick, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Gavin Tilstone, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Krista Alikas, University of Tartu

Ilmar Ansko, University of Tartu

Marine Bretagnon, ACRI-ST

Giorgio Dall’Olmo, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Helge Dzierzon, Brockmann Consult GmbH

Joel Kuusk, University of Tartu