SeaWiFS Project Accomplishments

As presented at the SeaWiFS Project Status Review - March 1996

SeaWiFS Data Processing System Major Accomplishments:

• All production software operational
• Baseline production hardware procured, installed and operational
• Data transfer procedures to the EOSDIS V0 Goddard DAAC operational
• Program/Format/Sample Data Products available via the SeaWiFS Homepage on the World Wide Web (established January 1994)
• NOAA/NASA SeaWiFS High Resolution Data Acquisition network establshed

Mission Operations Major Accomplishments:

• Complete command scheduling system designed, built, and tested along with complete sensor operations plan (documented in a NASA TM and conference proceedings paper)
• Developed complete simulated SeaWiFS data set, comprising realistic Earth-viewing geometry and top-of-the-atmosphere radiances (documented in 2 NASA TMs and one peer-reviewed paper)
• Developed graphical tool for selecting LAC targets for the mission (documented in a NASA TM)
• Built and distributed satellite tracking software for use by HRPT stations (documented in a NASA RP)
• Various orbit analyses were used to select orbit and operations methods: descending node vs. ascending node results, analysis of errors of several orbit models, tilt benefits and methodologies (documented in 2 NASA TMs and one peer-reviewed paper)
• Complete navigation system developed, including:
  1. new exact geolocation algorithm
  2. new semi-automated error analysis method using island target
  3. new orbit determination method using GPS data, validated with EUVE and APEX data
  4. attitude sensor processing software in place (documented in 2 peer-reviewed papers)

Data Capture Major Achievements:

• Setup and configured the NASCOM 2000 data line from Wallops to the SeaWiFS Data Capture Facility and the SeaWiFS Data Processing System.
• Integrated and tested the HDLC protocol stripper to enable standard ingest by compatible hardware.
• Designed and built the Goddard HRPT and GAC/LAC (stored dump) ground acquisition system.
• Coordinated the SeaStar RF Compatibility test using the Goddard's compatibility test van.
• Upgraded all ground system CPU's for faster and more efficient processing.

SeaWiFS Calibration & Validation Program Accomplishments:

• Calibration Round-Robins and Measurement Protocols
  1. 4 Calibration round-robins completed (Vols. 14, 16, 34 & 37)
  2. Joint U.S.-Japan SeaWiFS-OCTS cross-calibration initiated
  3. 1st Data analysis round-robin completed (Vol. 26)
  4. Data collection protocols developed (Vol. 5 of SeaWiFS TM series; revision, Vol. 25)
• Calibration Instrumentation and Community Calibration Support
  1. SeaWiFS SWG in situ radiometer calibration support ('92 -'95) provided by San Diego State U./CHORS (Jim Mueller)
  2. SeaWiFS transfer radiometer completed (Carol Johnson, NIST)
  3. Field deployable stability monitor completed (NIST)
• SeaWiFS Prelaunch Sensor Calibration and Characterization
  1. Prelaunch acceptance report published (Vol. 22)
  2. Prelaunch calibration report published (Vol. 23)
  3. Stray light description documented (Vol. 31)
  4. Out-of-band response correction documented (Vol. 28)
  5. Special calibration topics documented (Vol. 40, in press)
  6. 2 Prelaunch solar calibration experiments completed and published (1st, Vol. 19; 2nd, Vol. 27)
• MODIS Oceans Team Collaborations (co-funded activities)
  1. Atmospheric corrections (Howard Gordon)
  2. Chlorophyll algorithm (Ken Carder)
  3. Hawaii optical mooring development (Dennis Clark)
  4. Shipboard data acquisition system (Dennis Clark)
• Additional Investigations (augmentations to other programs)
  1. Atmospheric correction studies (Robert Fraser; Vols. 13, 19 & 27))
  2. Bermuda Atlantic Time Series observations (Dave Siegel)
  3. CalCOFI optical observations (Greg Mitchell)
  4. Atlantic Meridional Transect (UK) collaboration initiated (Aiken & Hooker, Vol. 35)
  5. Plymouth Marine Bio-Optical Data buoy (PlyMBODy) collaboration initiated (sun photometer provided, Vol. 33)
• Algorithm Development
  1. 6 Bio-optical algorithm & protocols workshops held
  2. 1 Calibration workshop held
  3. 2 Atmospheric correction workshops held (1 was joint meeting with MODIS Project)
  4. Meeting summaries published (Vol. 18 & 24)
  5. Atmospheric correction algorithm completed (H. Gordon)
  6. K490, CZCS pigment & chlorophyll-a algorithms completed (Mueller-in preparation; J. Aiken et al., Vol. 29; K. Carder et al.-submitted to JGR, respectively)
  7. Level-3 binning algorithm completed (J. Campbell, Vol. 32)
  8. SeaWiFS out-of-band correction algorithm completed (R. Barnes, Vol. 31)
  9. Data quality masks and flag algorithms completed (C. McClain, Vol. 28)
  10. Bio-optical data archive (SeaBASS) operational (Vol. 20)
      • Round-robin data
      • SeaWiFS prelaunch calibration & characterization data
      • Pigment data
      • Bio-optical data
• Marine Optical Buoy Development (Dennis Clark)
  1. 3-month prototype deployment completed in spring 1994
  2. Fabrication of 2 operational buoys underway (1st buoy completed in March)
  3. Support facility in Hawaii completed
  4. Shipboard data acquisition and pre-processing systems delivered to Dennis Clark (Stan Hooker & Jim Brown)
• Operational QC Software (Vol. 38, in press)
  1. Level-1, -2 & -3 quality assurance
  2. Ancillary data quality assurance (winds, pressure, ozone)
  3. Derived product evaluation
  4. Sensor engineering telemetry data tracking
  5. Calibration evaluation (lunar, solar, vicarious)
• Operational Processing Software
  1. Format specifications and code for all products (Vol. 43, in preparation)
  2. Documentation on final processing flow underway (Vol. 44, in preparation)
  3. Level -1, -2 & -3 code verified
• SeaWiFS Data Analysis System (SeaDAS; R&A funded)
  1. Supports Silicon Graphics and Sun (Solaris) systems
  2. 3 training classes held last summer
  3. Preliminary version released to users last summer
  4. 45 IDL licenses distributed to Science Working Group
  5. 1 training class held in May 1995
  6. Version 1 released in summer 1995
  7. Sun workstation delivered to Shirshov Inst. in Moscow
  8. 1 training class held in April 1996

SeaWiFS Technical Memorandum Series
Elaine Firestone, 301-286-4553, elaine@calval.gsfc.nasa.gov

SeaWiFS Worldwide Web Home Page: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS.html