Evaluation of the potential of the GER airborne imaging spectrometer for marine application

The GER Imaging Spectrometer data is evaluated for remote measurement of optical properties of turbid (case 2) waters of coastal New Jersey. The spectral characterization of these waters is mainly produced by the organic, inorganic and dissolved organic matter. Measuring the spatial distributions of these components will provide an important tool to safeguard the water quality and ecosystem health of the estuarine/nearshore environment. Spectral absorption and scattering estimated through analysis of the airborne hyperspectral data will be used for water quality model development. Such developmental use will aid the forthcoming transition to the next generation of spaceborne systems (i.e. MODIS) for oceanic and global measurements of primary productivity. This is considered to be a major pathway of carbon cycling in the ocean and thus essential to global change studies