Merimon 2001 - Final Report

• Main Authors: Woerd, H.J. van der, Eleveld, M.A, Hakvoort, H, Pasterkamp, R, Peters, S.W.M
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Geografisch informatiesysteem; Kustwateren; Monitoring; Waterbeheer; Waterkwaliteit

This report describes the results of the MERIMON study in the years 2001 and 2002. The MERIMON project was set up in the year 2000 to prepare the operational use ofvalidated MERIS products by establishing the science and software to handle and analyseMERIS observations in combination with in-situ measurements. The MERIS instrument (Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) was build by ESA and launched on the ENVISAT platform on March 1, 2002. Before the launch two workshops were organized to define the protocols for in-situ measurements and establish inter-comparison measurements of in-situ under-water measurements, laboratory analysis and above water reflectance measurements. The IVM measurements with PR650 comply with the protocols and standards and turn out to be important in the validation of the MERIS level-2 product R(0-). After the ENVISAT launch a campaign was undertaken to collect so-called match-up data. In collaboration with the RIKZ/DNZ Mitra vessel, in-situ measurements were made in the Dutch coastal waters close to the time of MERIS overpass. In addition much effort was put in the collection of airborne remote sensing observations of these waters by the EPS-A scanner and CASI Imaging spectrometer. In the summer of 2002 a number of good and reliable observations were made and combined wit h MERIS data. The results show that MERIS operates well from a technical point of view. The results also indicate the need for a regional processor and regional algorithms to properly derive estimates for the water quality parameters CHL, TSM and CDOM.