Simulation and analysis of adjacency effects in coastal waters: a case study

Area of Science:

• Oceanography
• Remote Sensing
• Atmospheric Science

Background:

• Satellite ocean color data are crucial for monitoring marine environments.
• Adjacency effects, where light is scattered into the sensor's field of view from surrounding areas, can distort measurements, especially in coastal regions.
• Accurate quantification of these effects is vital for reliable oceanographic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a methodology for accurately quantifying adjacency effects in satellite ocean color data.
• To analyze these effects under realistic observation conditions in the northern Adriatic Sea.
• To assess the impact of approximations commonly used in adjacency effect correction.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel methodology to quantify adjacency effects.
• Accounted for sea surface reflectance anisotropy, off-nadir views, coastal morphology, and atmospheric multiple scattering.
• Conducted a sensitivity analysis on common approximations.

Main Results:

• Adjacency effects can be significant in coastal waters, extending several kilometers offshore at visible and near-infrared wavelengths.
• The magnitude of adjacency effects is dependent on the angle of observation.
• Directional reflectance properties of the sea surface and atmospheric multiple scattering significantly influence adjacency effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology provides accurate quantification of adjacency effects in satellite ocean color data.
• Adjacency effects are a critical factor to consider in coastal ocean color remote sensing.
• Future ocean color sensor development should consider the impact of adjacency effects and observation geometry.