ABSTRACTS

Oral Session 11 | Friday, October 7, 09:20–09:40 | Abstract 585

A CubeSat, a Ship, and a Zoo of Algae: 3 New Optical Oceanography Applications at the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Here we present results from three ongoing ocean optics projects at UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO). 1) SeaHawk-1, weighing 5kg total, is the first 3U CubeSat designed to hold an ocean color instrument payload (HawkEye). HawkEye is an 8-band multispectral sensor similar to SeaWiFS, but designed to fit a 1U cube, has ~10 times higher spatial resolution (~130m), does not saturate over land, and was built with low-cost materials. Thanks to the Moore Foundation, SeaHawk-1 was launched in 2018 and is operational since 2021. The >4000 images collected so far have proved the concept and show excellent intercomparisons with other satellites while delivering much higher spatial resolution. We will show results from lunar calibrations, 7-day consecutive day targeting and in situ validations. 2) The R/V Savannah is a regional UNOLS vessel equipped with shared instrumentation that supports research and education in the Southeastern USA. SkIO received NSF funding to transform the vessel into a continuous sampling platform to collect Biogeochemical Optical Measurements (“BiOMe”) of pH, nitrate, chlorophyll, dissolved organic matter, attenuation, absorption, backscattering, particle size distribution. Besides OSU’s new RCRV, this will be the first UNOLS vessel with such a shared-use flow-through optical sensor system. 3) We will show preliminary data from the PPLS, an instrument designed to measure hyperspectral backscattering of algal monocultures in laboratory settings. The unprecedented resolution, amount and type of data collected with these three projects will advance all fields of oceanography and can be used for satellite data validation and algorithm development.

Sara Rivero-Calle, University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, 0000-0002-7538-0429

John Morrison, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Gene C. Feldman, NASA Goddard Space Flight

Alan Holmes, SBIG Industries

Md Masud-Ul-Alam, University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Mallory Hunt, University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Benjamin Lowin, University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography