Co-Chairs: Paul DiGiacomo (NOAA/NESDIS, USA) Craig Donlon (ESA, EU) Ewa Kwiatkowska (EUMETSAT, EU) CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites) developed the concept of virtual, space-based Constellations in support of GEO (Group on Earth Observations) objectives, and as a space component of GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems). A CEOS Virtual Constellation is a set of space and ground segment capabilities operating together in a coordinated manner, in effect a virtual system that overlaps in coverage in order to meet a combined and common set of Earth Observation requirements. The individual satellites and ground segments can belong to a single or to multiple owners. The Constellation concept builds upon or serves to refocus already existing projects and activities. The Constellations effort provides a unique forum to achieve political visibility and increase mutual benefit among space and other environmental agencies in support of cross-cutting GEO Tasks and Targets. The Ocean Colour Radiometry (OCR) constellation was approved by CEOS after the SIT-24 meeting in Darmstadt, Germany (Sept 2009). The Ocean Colour Radiometry - Virtual Constellation (OCR-VC) will provide long time series of calibrated ocean colour radiance (OCR) at key wavelength bands from measurements obtained from multiple satellites. OCR-VC activities will include calibration, validation, merging of satellite and in situ data, product generation, as well as development and demonstrations of new and improved applications. All IOCCG agencies serving on the IOCCG Committee (i.e., NASA, NOAA, ESA, EUMETSAT, EC/JRC, CNES, JAXA, KIOST, ISRO, INPE and CSA) support some aspect of this virtual constellation, and are taking a leadership role in the activities. Near-future plans of the OCR-VC include implementation of the INSITU-OCR (International Network for Sensor Inter-comparison and Uncertainty assessment for Ocean Colour Radiometry) and implementing linkages with relevant components of the GEO Blue Planet Task. Members: Philippe Escudier CNES, France Ewa Kwiatkowska EUMETSAT Martin Bergeron CSA Canada Joo-Hyung Ryu KIOST, Korea Milton Kampel INPE, Brazil Mark Dowell JRC, European Commission Hiroshi Murakami JAXA, Japan Prakash Chauhan ISRO, India Paula Bontempi NASA, USA Craig Donlon ESA, Europe Paul DiGiacomo NOAA/NESDIS USA Ad hoc members: Stewart Bernard CSIR, South Africa David Antoine LOV, France Venetia Stuart IOCCG Project Office, Canada Working Groups | Home

OCR-VC Documents     Presentation, SIT-22 Meeting (Sept. 2008)     Minutes Full Steering Group (April 2009)     Presentation, SIT-24 Meeting (Sept. 2009)     OCR-VC Implementation Plan (Sept. 2009)     OCR-VC White Paper (OceanObs'09)     Timeline for OCR-VC Implementation (Oct.2009)     Terms of Reference for OCR-VC (Dec. 2013)     OCR-VC presentation, IOCCG-19 meeting (Jan. 2014)     OCR-VC Progress, CEOS SIT-29 Meeting (April 2014)     OCR-VC Progress, CEOS SIT-30 Meeting (April 2015) Cal/Val Workshop, JRC, 21 Oct 2010     Workshop Agenda     OCR-VC and INSITU-OCR - Mark Dowell     GCOM-C Cal/Val - Hiroshi Murakami     JRC Cal/Val - Giuseppe Zibordi     MERIS Cal/Val - Philippe Goryl     CoastColour approach - Carsten Brockmann     EUMETSAT Ocean Colour - Anne O'Carroll     GOCI Cal/Val - Joo-Hyung Ryu     CNES calibration approaches - Bertrand Fougnie     Cal/Val in Australia - Vittorio Brando     Using SIMBADA - Robert Frouin     NASA's sensors calibration - Gerhard Meister     NOAA Contributions to OCR-VC - Chris Brown     INSITU OCR-VC discussions - Mark Dowell Workshop participants (click to enlarge)