GEO AquaWatch Workshop: Validation of Satellite-derived Optical and Water Quality Parameters for Coastal and Inland Waters

Workshop on the Validation of Satellite-derived Optical and Water Quality Parameters for Coastal and Inland Waters

Co-sponsored by NASA and GEO AquaWatch

June 7-9^th, 2022 Madison, Wisconsin

See Water Quality Validation (wisc.edu) for details and expression of interest form (March 31^st deadline).

Validation and uncertainty assessment are crucial to the successful acceptance of satellite-derived data products. Only through confidence in parameter uncertainty will there be increased uptake of these data products by the end-user community. This workshop will focus on the validation of water quality products derived from satellite ocean color sensors within optically complex nearshore-coastal and inland waters with the goal of constructing a global validation network.  The workshop will summarize and evaluate the state of current validation assets globally, identify gaps in validation coverage and begin to design a framework to construct a global validation network for these critical waters. Workshop objectives include:

• Review and evaluation of current and planned validation-related activities.
• Identifying validation gaps in spatial coverage as well as water types.
• Review and evaluation of current in situ and laboratory optical measurements and data acquisition protocols including instrument characterization and absolute radiometric calibration.
•  Review and evaluation of satellite measurements in terms of representativeness for coastal and inland systems (e.g. pixel window, match up timing).
• Assessing current optical and water quality database resources including repository archive, preservation, stewardship, and access.
• Building global coordination through international partnerships for validation activities.

The workshop will cover a number of aspects related to validation including standardization of protocols, instrumentation needs, current validation research and operational efforts, validation metrics, interoperability, and documenting and formatting validation data.

Apply to Attend

This workshop is being planned as an in-person gathering to encourage participant interaction.  We may have capabilities for virtual participation in certain program sections, but participants are encouraged to attend in person. The workshop will have a capacity of 50 participants. Limited travel support is available (10 US residents and 5 international).  All participants are required to first fill out the “Expression of Interest” survey link to be considered by the program committee.  Please register your expression of interest by March 31, 2022.