Results of field intercomparison experiment, calibration plan and 2019 epansion plan for the WATERHYPERNET, a Network for Multi-satellite Water Reflectance Validation

RUDDICK, K.; VASTEENWEGEN, D.; BECK, M.; CATTRIJSSE, A.; DOGLIOTTI, A. I.; DOXARAN, D.; GOYENS, C.; VAN DER ZANDE, D.; VANHELLEMONT, Q.; VENDT, R.

Encuentro; 2019 International Ocean Colour Science Meeting; 2019

A network of hyperspectral radiometers isbeing developed for radiometric validation of satellite missions. This networkfollows closely the AERONET-OC federation concept [Zibordi et al, 2009] butuses the TRIOS/RAMSES hyperspectral radiometer and a more extensive multi-lookpointing scenario. The instrument system consists of one radiance and oneirradiance sensor on a pointing robot, controlled by a microprocessor andsupplemented with GPS, inclinometer and video camera data feeds. Themeasurement protocol is based on the abovewater method of [Mobley, 1999 and2015], but includes additional scenarios for different viewing zenith andazimuth configurations. The system is being deployed initially in Belgiancoastal and inland waters, then at sites in Argentina and France before fullinternational expansion. The network will provide water reflectance data forthe radiometric validation of all visible and near infrared bands of alloptical missions, including Sentinel-2A&B, Sentinel-3A&B, PROBA-V,MODIS-AQUA&TERRA, VIIRS, Landsat-8, Pléiades, CHRIS-PROBA, MSG-SEVIRI,PlanetDove ? PRISMA, ENMAP, PACE, MTG and ... any future optical missions,including nanosatellites. This presentation will provide results from prototypetesting on Aqua Alta Oceanographic Tower in July 2018, including a comparisonwith a conventional manually-operated TRIOS/RAMSES system and the automatedAERONET-OC data from this site. The specific application to validation of thewide and asymmetric bands of Sentinel-2A and -2B will be described. Research inprogress on the abovewater measurement protocol and the operational plan forcharacterisation of all radiometers will also be outlined.