System vicarious calibration for Copernicus ocean colour missions : requirements and recommendations for a European site

The content of this Report builds on the long-standing experience of the JRC on ocean colour radiometry. This experience counts on decadal field and laboratory measurements performed in support of validation and SVC applications, and additionally on activities comprehensively embracing measurement protocols, instruments characterization and the initiation of autonomous measurement infrastructures. Overall, this Report summarizes a number of recent investigations led by the JRC on SVC requirements for the creation of CDRs. The final objective is to consolidate in a single document the elements essential for the realization of a European SVC infrastructure in support of the Copernicus Program. Briefly, the various Chapters summarize: - General requirements for a long-term SVC infrastructure, which indicate the need for spatially homogenous oceanic optical properties, seasonal stability of marine and atmospheric geophysical quantities, negligible land perturbations, hyperspectral radiometry, and low measurement uncertainties; - Spectral resolution requirements for in situ SVC hyperspectral measurements as a function of bandwidths and center-wavelengths of most advanced satellite sensors, which specify the need for sub-nanometre resolutions to allow for supporting any scheduled satellite ocean color sensor; - Suitable SVC locations in European Seas showing the fitness of regions in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to satisfy fundamental requirements.