Meris Performance in the East China Seas : Evaluation Of

Spectral remote sensing reflectance in the visible (Rrs(λ), sr) was derived from ENVISAT MERIS data over the East China Seas, and compared with those determined from concurrent in situ measurements between 2003 and 2007. The results showed that both the FUB plug-in module and the standard MERIS Level-2 data generally overestimated Rrs(λ), particularly in the blue, while FUB plug-in shows a significant improvement in accuracy compared to the standard MERIS L2 data. The MERIS and in situ Rrs(λ) were respectively used as input to a quasi-analytical algorithm to derive absorption coefficients of the various water constituents (phytoplankton, colored organic matter and detritus), and compared with those determined in situ. There was slight improvement in the FUB-derived absorption as compared with that from the MERIS L2 data. The derived absorption from in situ Rrs(λ) were apparently improved compared with those derived from MERIS Rrs(λ). The Rrs(λ)-based algorithm for the retrieval of diffuse attenuation coefficient, K490 (m), was adjusted to include a term Rrs(670), which showed the better results.