Observational and theoretical study of spectrally resolved ocean optical properties

In order to verify the COVE (CERES Ocean Validation Experiment) platform measurements and characterize the ocean optical properties, airborne measurements of spectral and broadband shortwave upwelling and downwelling radiative fluxes were made onboard the NASA Langley OV-10 aircraft between July, 2001 and March, 2003. The processed data and derived spectral albedos are compared with other observed data and model simulation results, and the comparisons show consistently good agreement.