EARTHCARE+ INNOVATION – Ocean Color EarthCARE ANalysis (OCEAN)

The OCEAN (Ocean Color EarthCARE ANalysis) project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) within the EarthCARE+ Innovation program, marks a step forward in satellite oceanography. Harnessing the advanced capabilities of the ATLID (ATmospheric LIDar) instrument aboard the EarthCARE satellite, the project aims to unveil new insights into global ocean ecosystems by analyzing sub-surface backscattered elastic and inelastic signals at 355 nm.

Using the High Spectral Resolution Lidar and polarization retrieval techniques, OCEAN targets the retrieval of key ocean optical properties—including the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance, Kd(355), and the sub-surface hemispheric particulate backscatter coefficient, bbp. These measurements are critical for monitoring the distribution and variability of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), a component with vital influence on the ocean’s role in Earth’s climate regulation.

OCEAN activities are organized in different but interacting phases:

1. Consolidation of the scientific requirements.
2. Development and validation of EarthCARE OCEAN prototype product.
3. Scientific impact, analysis and assessment of the OCEAN product.
4. Scientific roadmap.

The overall proposed approach is based on the transfer of the lidar consolidated know-how from atmospheric to oceanic applications through EarthCARE observation data analysis and ocean radiative transfer numerical modelling.