Ocean color through satellite lidars: the COLOR project

<p>During the last decade, new applications exploiting data from satellite borne lidar measurements demonstrated that these sensors can give valuable information about ocean optical properties [1,2,3]. Within this framework, COLOR (CDOM-proxy retrieval from aeOLus ObseRvations) consisted in a 18<strong>-</strong>month feasibility study approved by ESA within the Aeolus+ Innovation program. COLOR had the objective to evaluate and document the feasibility of deriving an in-water prototype product from the analysis of the signal acquired by the ESA Earth Explorer Wind Mission ADM-Aeolus (Atmospheric Dynamics Mission). In particular, COLOR project focused on the AEOLUS potential retrieval of the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance (Kd [m-1]) from the ocean sub-surface backscattered component of the 355 nm received lidar signal.</p><p>The core activity of the project was the characterization of the signal from the AEOLUS ground bin through two parallel and strongly interacting activities: a) Radiative transfer numerical modelling; b) AEOLUS data analysis. The main result of the project will be presented together with the discussion of the perspectives of the satellite lidar missions dedicated to ocean color.</p><p>&#160;</p><p>[1]&#160; M. J. Behrenfeld et al. (2019). Global satellite-observed daily vertical migrations of ocean animals&#187;, Nature, vol. 576, n. 7786, Art. n. 7786, dic. 2019, doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1796-9.</p><p>[2] Jamet, C., Ibrahim, A., Ahmad, Z., Angelini, F., Babin, M., Behrenfeld, M. J., et al. (2019). Going beyond standard ocean color observations: lidar and polarimetry.&#160;<em>Front. Mar. Sci.</em>&#160;6:251. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00251</p><p>[3]&#160; D. Dionisi, V. E. Brando, G. Volpe, S. Colella, e R. Santoleri (2020). Seasonal distributions of ocean particulate optical properties from spaceborne lidar measurements in Mediterranean and Black sea&#187;, Remote Sens. Environ., vol. 247, pag. 111889, set. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2020.111889.</p>