Research project S0/58/041 (Research action S0)
Context and objectives
The BRADEX (Bottom Reflectance and Adjacency Experiment) project aims to improve the scientific basis for processing of optical remote sensing imagery in shallow coastal and inland waters, where bottom reflectance and/or adjacency effects (“environmental straylight”) may be significant. The BRADEX project is motivated by the need to improve existing optical remote sensing algorithms for chlorophyll (CHL) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) and water transparency (WTR) retrieval to account for conditions, especially in very near shore and inland waters, where bottom reflectance and/or adjacency effects may significantly contaminate products.
Methodology
An AISA overflight was carried out for the existing Oostende ocean colour test-site, with extension into very shallow water and an inland water body.
The airborne data is supplemented by ground data including hyperspectral measurements of water reflectance, SPM and CHL, and measurement of atmospheric properties using the fixed Oostende AERONET sunphotometer and portable CIMEL and SIMBADA sunphotometers. Additionally, any simultaneous satellite data with sufficient spatial resolution are processed.
The combined airborne and ground data will provide a benchmark dataset for testing of algorithms for detection and correction of bottom reflectance and adjacency effects. Atmospheric and marine radiative transfer models will be used to simulate the conditions encountered and to guide the development of algorithms applicable to remote sensing data.
