Comparison of SeaWiFS, MODIS and MERIS radiometric products at a coastal site

SeaWiFS, MODIS and MERIS remote sensing radiometric products were assessed using in situ data collected at a coastal site in the northern Adriatic Sea from May 2002 to September 2005. The analysis was restricted to satellite and in situ data taken within one hour interval to minimize the effects of temporal variability of atmosphere and seawater around the measurement site. The comparison of SeaWiFS and MODIS normalized water-leaving radiances with in situ values showed averages of relative percent difference varying from 0% to -9% in the 443-555 nm spectral range. Higher values ranging from +15 to +42% were observed for the MERIS data in the equivalent spectral range (i.e., 443-560 nm).