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FEATURE
CREWS RPC Experiment Presentation
2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting
Orlando, FL
03.06.08

CORAL REEF REMOTE SENSING USING SIMULATED VIIRS AND LDCM IMAGERY

Kaneohe Bay, HI Chlorophyll Concentrations
Chlorophyll Concentrations
Kaneohe Bay, HI

The Rapid Prototyping Capability (RPC) node at NASA Stennis Space Center, MS, was used to simulate NASA next-generation sensor imagery over well-known coral reef areas: Looe Key, FL, and Kaneohe Bay, HI. 

The objective was to assess the degree to which next-generation sensor systems—the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)—might provide key input to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON)/Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS) Decision Support Tool (DST). 

The DST data layers produced from the simulated imagery concerned water quality and benthic classification map layers. The water optical parameters of interest were chlorophyll (Chl) and the absorption coefficient (a). The input imagery used by the RPC for simulation included spaceborne (Hyperion) and airborne (AVIRIS) hyperspectral data. Specific field data to complement and aid in validation of the overflight data was used when available.

The results of the experiment show that the next-generation sensor systems are capable of providing valuable data layer resources to NOAA’s ICON/CREWS DST.

Related Links:
+ 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting