Retrievals of ocean surface chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla) by multiple ocean color satellite sensors (SeaWiFS, MODIS-Terra, MODIS-Aqua, MERIS, VIIRS) using standard algorithms were evaluated in the California Current using a large archive of in situ measurements. Over the full range of in situ Chla, all sensors produced a coefficient of determination (R) between 0.79 and 0.88 and a median a...

In this study we evaluated the potential of the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) for monitoring gross primary productivity (GPP) across fifteen eddy covariance towers encompassing a wide variation in North American vegetation composition. The acrosssite relationship between MTCI and tower GPP was stronger than that between either the MODIS GPP ...

We present examples of spectra and image data from ocean and coastal waters observed with MERIS, which demonstrate the importance of a spectral band near 709 nm for interpreting water-leaving spectral radiance. We hope that the evidence presented here will convince planners that it is important to include this band in all future ocean colour sensors (assuming related bands, for example near 665...

The current and future strength of the terrestrial carbon sink has a crucial influence on the expected climate warming on Earth. Usually, Earth Observation (EO) by its very nature focusses on diagnosing the current state of the planet. However, it is possible to use EO products in data assimilation systems to improve not only the diagnosis of the current state, but also the accuracy of future p...

This contribution gives an overview of the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) global land product corresponding to the biophysical variable of the Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR). This product can be used in largescale biosphere modeling for better estimating the carbon fluxes since they directly represent the amount of solar energy which serves as a...

With the recent launch of MERIS, a wide range of new possibilities for the periodic land cover characterization at regional scale is available. This sensor offers a combination of innovative features, such as high spectral and temporal resolutions, wide geographical coverage and improved atmospheric correction. We believe that the exploitation of data obtained by this new sensor fills previous ...

With the availability of space-borne data from medium resolution optical sensors such as MERIS and MODIS, deriving land cover information of large areas is expected to improve considerably. Both, the higher spatial and spectral resolution compared to previously available data from AVHRR seem to be far more suited for detailed mapping of land cover. Within the Siberia-II project (EU contract EVG...

The physically based Modular Inversion Processing System (MIP) is used in a processing chain for inland water constituent retrieval from MERIS level 1B full resolution data. Reformatting, data import, water/land masking, atmospheric correction and water constituent retrieval are fully automized, in order to allow the efficient analysis of large data quantities in a time series of water quality ...

The chlorophyll-a 90 percentile product (CHL-P90) gained importance in describing the eutrophication state of the Belgian part of the North Sea when Water Framework Directive requirements were transposed into Belgian law in July 2010. A MERIS based CHL-P90 product was developed to answer this need for information as MERIS provides a better temporal and spatial coverage compared to in-situ monit...