Validation of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Derived from Meris on the West Coast of Canada

RESUME We have received level 1 data (calibrated radiances in each of the 15 spectral bands of the baseline band-set) for all the above 156 scenes, and level 2 data (atmospherically-corrected radiances, and derived products) for 111 scenes, a total of 42 in 2002, 33 in 2003 and 35 in 2004. All the above data are at the reduced resolution (RR) of 1200 m, comparable to SeaWiFS and MODIS. One important capability of MERIS is providing full resolution (FR) data at 300 m resolution. However, we have received FR data for only 30 days up to August 2004. This is the preferred data type, giving more spatial detail and demonstrating MERIS’ capability for imaging in narrow inlets and close to the shore, areas often of highest interest and priority. MERIS on Envisat provides images of aboveatmosphere spectral radiance in bands at 665, 681 and 709 nm. These were included in the baseline spectral band set to allow detection of the fluorescence signal from surface chlorophyll in sea water, stimulated by ambient sun and sky light. We reported [1] on our validation work on this signal at the previous Envisat Symposium in November 2003. The present paper includes more recent data, confirming and refining the previous results.