Demonstration of a Modular Prototype End-to-End Simulator for Aquatic Remote Sensing Applications.

This study introduces a prototype end-to-end Simulator software tool for simulating two-dimensional satellite multispectral imagery for a variety of satellite instrument models in aquatic environments. Using case studies, the impact of variable sensor configurations on the performance of value-added products for challenging applications, such as coral reefs and cyanobacterial algal blooms, is assessed. This demonstrates how decisions regarding satellite sensor design, driven by cost constraints, directly influence the quality of value-added remote sensing products.

Determining the Spectral Requirements for Cyanobacteria Detection for the CyanoSat Hyperspectral Imager with Machine Learning.

This study determines an optimal spectral configuration for the CyanoSat imager for the discrimination and retrieval of cyanobacterial pigments using a simulated dataset with machine learning (ML). A minimum viable spectral configuration with as few as three spectral bands enabled the determination of cyanobacterial pigments phycocyanin (PC) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) but may not be suitable for determining cyanobacteria composition. A spectral configuration with about nine ideally positioned spectral bands enabled estimation of the cyanobacteria-to-algae ratio (CAR) and pigment concentrations with almost the same accuracy as using all 300 spectral channels.

Improved hyperspectral inversion of aquatic reflectance under non-uniform vertical mixing.

Estimating the concentration of water constituents by optical remote sensing assumes absorption and scattering processes to be uniform over the observation depth. Using hyperspectral reflectance, we present a method to direct the retrieval of the backscattering coefficient (b(λ)) from reflectance (> 600 nm) towards wavebands where absorption by water dominates the reflectance curve. Two experiments demonstrate the impact of hyperspectral inversion in the selected band set.

Understanding the contribution of phytoplankton phase functions to uncertainties in the water colour signal.

The accurate description of a water body's volume scattering function (VSF), and hence its phase functions, is critical to the determination of the constituent inherent optical properties (IOPs), the associated spectral water-leaving reflectance, and consequently the retrieval of phytoplankton functional type (PFT) information. The equivalent algal populations (EAP) model has previously been evaluated for phytoplankton-dominated waters, and offers the ability to provide phytoplankton population-specific phase functions, unveiling a new opportunity to further understanding of the causality of the PFT signal. This study presents and evaluates the wavelength dependent, spectrally variable EAP particle phase functions and the subsequent effects on water-leaving reflectance.

Biophysical modelling of phytoplankton communities from first principles using two-layered spheres: Equivalent Algal Populations (EAP) model: erratum.

We regret that the Rrs spectra shown for the EAP modelled high biomass validation in Fig. 7 [Opt. Express, 22, 16745 (2014)] are incorrect.