Vicarious calibration of satellite ocean color sensors at two coastal sites

Regionally specific vicarious calibration coefficients for ocean color sensors have been computed for the visible bands using the normalized water leaving radiance L-wn collected at sites in the northern Adriatic Sea and Baltic Proper. These coefficients are consistent with those found in oligotrophic waters for the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The extension of the vicarious calibration process to the near-infrared is investigated by taking advantage of the field data of aerosol optical thickness coincident with L-wn. Results further confirm the importance of accurately modeling and identifying the aerosol components in atmospheric correction schemes. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America