Ocean colour validation activities at the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower in the northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

The development and validation of ocean colour products require the availability of in situ atmospheric and marine data. Since 1995, the Coastal Atmosphere and Sea Time Series (CoASTS) Program ensures the collection of an in situ comprehensive set of measurements taken from an oceanographic tower in the northern Adriatic Sea. An example of a validation exercise is presented through the comparison of in situ and satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness at various wavelengths in the 443–865 nm spectral interval.

Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the European Commission under contracts ENV4CT960307 and MAS3CT970087, and by NASA through grant NCC5-371.

Notes

An updated version of a paper originally presented at Oceans from Space ‘Venice 2000’ Symposium, Venice, Italy, 9–13 October 2000.