Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) Filtered Spectral Radiance Files

This dataset contains the Marine Optical Buoy (MOBY) filtered spectral radiance files. These are TXT ASCII files. The dataset contains hyper spectral Lw, Lwn, and Es data and modeled Kl Lw and Lwn data. If there is a special Lw product, due to some issue with the specific deployment, then there is an additional file for that day with the Lw and Es for that product.

For example, for deployment M276 there is an Lw10 file. In general, there will be a Lw1 (using Lu(1m) measurement, and Lu(1m) and Lu(5m) to derive KL to propagate Lu(1m) to the surface. Similarly, there will be an Lw2 which uses the pair of Lu(1m) and Lu(9m) to derive Lw, and an Lw7 which uses the pair of Lu(5m) and LU(9m) to derive Lw.

The time period covered by the MOBY filtered spectral radiance dataset begins at 1997-07-29. The project is ongoing and continuous. More data is added as updates to the data record become available.

MOBY is an autonomous radiometric buoy stationed in the waters off Lanai, Hawaii. MOBY has been the primary in-water oceanic observatory for the vicarious calibration of U. S. satellite ocean color sensors since 1997. The MOBY project data set has been evaluated by NOAA, NASA, and NIST for its accuracy and precision numerous times since 1997. The MOBY measurements are calibrated with SI standards every per and post deployments to ensure the data sets continue to provide accurate and precise data. The satellite ocean color vicarious calibration community uses the data to validate the satellite measured radiance.

MOBY was designed to measure sunlight incidents both on and scattered out of the ocean. These measurements are provided in near real-time for the vicarious calibration procedures conducted by ocean color scientists. It is a NOAA-funded project that provides for the vicarious calibration of ocean color satellites such as SeaWiFS and MODIS. Currently, MOBY provides data to JPSS VIIRS and to non-NOAA agency partners, including Copernicus Sentinel 3A and 3B.