Mission Requirements for Future Ocean-Colour Sensors.

Abstract

With the proliferation of complex and sophisticated ocean colour sensors now on orbit or planned for launch, this report seeks to establish the minimum basic radiometric and sensor requirements for global observations of the ocean’s chemistry and biology from space. The report requirements recognize not only the evolution of oceanographic and Earth system science questions and multi-decadal scientific discoveries since the CZCS era, but also the value of a continuous time series of global, climate quality, ocean colour data to support a virtual constellation of ocean colour sensors and enable large-scale oceanographic research. These data support the estimation of dozens of biological, chemical, biogeochemical, and ecological properties of the ocean critical to understand the Earth and the ocean’s role in the Earth system and manage its resources.