AERONET-OC LWN Uncertainties: Revisited

The Ocean Color Component of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET-OC) aims at supporting the assessment of satellite ocean color radiometric products with in situ reference data derived from automated above-water measurements. This study, applying metrology principles and taking advantage of recent technology and science advances, revisits the uncertainty estimates formerly provided for AERONET-OC normalized water-leaving radiances LWN. The new uncertainty values are quantified for a number of AERONET-OC sites located in marine regions representative of chlorophyll-a-dominated waters (i.e., Case 1) and a variety of optically complex waters. Results show uncertainties typically increasing with the optical complexity of water and wind speed. Relative and absolute uncertainty values are provided for the various sites together with contributions from each source of uncertainty affecting measurements. In view of supporting AERONET-OC data users, the study also suggests practical solutions to quantify uncertainties for LWN from its spectral values. Additionally, results from an evaluation of the temporal variability characterizing LWN at various AERONET-OC sites are presented to address the impact of temporal mismatches between in situ and satellite data in matchup analysis.