1. Dimitry Van der Zande – RBINS Kevin Ruddick - RBINS
AERONET-Ocean Colour: presentation of the network, and the new North Sea installations
Dimitry Van der Zande – RBINS
Kevin Ruddick - RBINS

2. AERONET-OC: Continuous calibration/validation
The ocean color component of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET-OC) has been implemented by NASA to support long-term satellite ocean color investigations through cross-site consistent and accurate measurements collected by autonomous radiometer systems deployed on offshore fixed platforms.
The main application of AERONET-OC data is the calibration/validation of primary satellite products for current (e.g. NASA MODIS & VIIRS) and future satellite missions (ESA Sentinel-3, Sentinel-2) over a variety of complex coastal waters.
CIMEL-SEAPRISM
AERONET-OC stations providing NRT data to NASA

3. Two AERONET-OC stations in the BCZ
Two new AERONET-OC stations have been prepared/installed in Belgian waters for the validation of ocean colour sensors in a multi-sensor perspective.
One is located in a nearshore turbid water location (Zeebrugge-MOW1 site)
One is located further offshore in clearer water (Thornton site)
Belgian waters and the location of the two new AERONET-OC sites. RGB composite from Landsat-8 on at 10:40 UTC
CIMEL-SeaPRISM installed on the Zeebrugge-MOW1 site.

4. CIMEL SeaPrism on MOW1

5. CIMEL SeaPrism on MOW1 (Zeebrugge)
Measurement pole ‘MOW1’ near Zeebrugge in 10m water depth, 3.65km from land. SeaPrism instrument is installed on the platform rail
Time series of Suspended Particulate matter (top) and Chlorophyll a (bottom) at the Zeebrugge/MOW1 location for MERIS, MODIS and SeaWiFS over the period
(top) Water reflectance from MERIS (2nd reproc) data for with the mean of all spectra (red line). (bottom) Water reflectance from AERONET-OC measurements (Feb 2014-Feb 2015)
1865 water leaving radiance spectra  222 retained after level 1.5 QC
SeaPRISM has been recalibrated by NASA and is ready for redeployment

6. CIMEL SeaPrism on Thornton site (C-Power OTS)
Cimel 906 installation

7. CIMEL SeaPrism on Thornton site (C-Power OTS)

8. CIMEL SeaPrism on Thornton site (C-Power OTS)
Time series of Suspended Particulate matter (top) and Chlorophyll a (bottom) at the Thornton Bank location for MERIS, MODIS and SeaWiFS over the period
(top) Water reflectance from MERIS (2nd reproc) data for with the mean of all spectra (red line). (bottom) Water reflectance from AERONET-OC measurements (April-Nov 2015)
C-Power offshore transformer station on the Thornton bank in 19m water depth, 26.25km from land. SeaPRISM instrument will be installed on the upper platform rail corner.
1369 water leaving radiance spectra  399 retained after level 1.5 QC
SeaPRISM will be dismounted in November 2015 for recalibration by NASA
Redeployment planned March 2016

9. CIMEL SeaPrism: data AERONET-OC data processed by NASA
In NRT available from AERONET-OC website
V1 = all data
V1.5 = quality controlled by NASA
V2 = quality controlled after 2nd calibration of CIMEL

10. Conclusions
The North Sea AERONET-OC stations enables continuous calibration/validation in 2 types of water which vary strongly in terms of CHL and SPM
Automated measurements potentially will deliver a match-up with satellite observations on every cloudless day. (~50-80/year)
The network of North Sea AERONET stations will be extremely useful for validation of the new satellites missions (Sentinel-2 / Sentinel-3)