VIIRS-derived ocean color product using the imaging bands

A technique and implementation for deriving ocean color product using the imaging band (I-band) measurements from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) have been developed. The three VIIRS-SNPP image bands (638, 862, and 1600 nm) with spatial resolution of 375 m are much better than the VIIRS moderate (M) resolution bands of 750 m, which have been used for routinely producing VIIRS global ocean color products. In particular, the high spatial resolution of VIIRS-derived normalized water-leaving radiance at the wavelength of 638 nm (I1 band) nLw(638) can provide useful information about water optical, biological, and biogeochemical properties over turbid coastal and inland waters. In addition, VIIRS-derived nLw(638) data provide an important spectral point and coverage along with nLw(λ) from the seven VIIRS M-bands at wavelengths of 410, 443, 486, 551, 671, 745, and 862 nm, particularly over turbid coastal and inland waters. In this paper, we describe our effort to develop a technique for deriving VIIRS nLw(λ) spectra for both M-bands and I-bands using the Multi-Sensor Level-1 to Level-2 (MSL12) ocean color data processing system. Some examples of VIIRS-derived nLw(638) are provided and discussed, showing the usefulness of this added capability for providing water properties over global turbid coastal and inland waters. Therefore, MSL12 is now capable of routinely and efficiently producing VIIRS nLw(638) for both spatial resolutions of 375 and 750 m, along with nLw(λ) spectra at VIIRS M1-M7 with the spatial resolution of 750 m.