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Wednesday, November 7, 2018. 3:00PM. Webinar: Uncertainty in the Retrieval of Coastal Aquatic Properties from Remote Sensing Imposed by Sensor Noise. Steven G. Ackleson, US Naval Research Laboratory. Sponsored by NOAA. More information here.

Satellite remote sensing systems designed for coastal aquatic applications strive to provide high quality data across the visible and near infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.  Data quality is driven by uncertainties related to sensor design and environmental variability.  The work is focused on the impact of sensor signal to noise (SNR) on the retrieval of key aquatic ecological parameters; water column impurity concentration (chlorophyll, colored dissolved organic matter, and suspended sediment) water depth, and benthic cover.  Uncertainty is defined as parameter variability producing a reflectance signal that is indistinguishable from the true condition.  The impact of sensor SNR is investigated using modeling methods and remote sensing data analyses. The results quantify parameter retrieval uncertainty as a function of sensor design SNR and environmental noise attributed to surface glint.  The results will be discussed within the context of future satellite systems designed for coastal applications, such as the NASA Surface Biology and Geology sensor.