Validation of MERIS water quality products in Murchison Bay, Lake Victoria - Preliminary results

As a step forward to validating the retrieval algorithm associated with the MERIS (Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) sensor onboard the European Space Agency's ENVISAT satellite, we compare scaling factors for a_pig(442) (pigment absorption coefficient at 442 nm) versus chl-a concentration, and for b_p(440) (scattering coefficient for particles at 440 nm) versus TSM (total suspended matter) concentration, as well as in situ measurements of chl-a and TSM concentrations in Murchison Bay, Lake Victoria, with MERIS level 2 products. Our comparisons show that MERIS chl-a data products underestimate the in situ chl-a concentration by a factor of about 0.6, and that MERIS level 2 products overestimate the in situ TSM concentration and the yellow substance absorption coefficient by a factor of about 2. Application of a local inherent optical property (IOP) scaling factor improves the retrieval provided by MERIS level 2 products. The MERIS level 2 products also underestimate the water-leaving reflectance. These discrepancies between retrievals from MERIS data and in situ measurements are due to the current imperfect atmospheric correction algorithm for inland waters. Therefore, a need arises to develop site-specific bio-optical models and to improve existing MERIS retrieval algorithms.