![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.2in" height="0.99375in"}

Verification and Validation of NASA-Supported Enhancements to the Near
Real Time Harmful Algal Blooms Observation System (HABSOS) (Draft
Version 3.0)

NASA Coastal Management Team

John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi

Acknowledgments

This work was directed by the NASA Applied Sciences Directorate at the
John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. Participation in this work by
Science Systems & Applications, Inc. and the Computer Sciences
Corporation was supported under NASA Task Order NNS04AB54T.

+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Applied Sciences Directorate      |                                  |
| Coastal Management Team           |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+
| Callie Hall, *NASA SSC/ASD*       | DeNeice Guest, *SSAI*            |
|                                   |                                  |
| Terry McPherson, *NASA SSC/ASD*   | Andy Navard, CSC                 |
|                                   |                                  |
| Bruce Spiering, *NASA SSC/ASD*    | Mary Pagnutti, *SSAI*            |
|                                   |                                  |
| Richard Brown, SSAI               | Robert Ryan, *SSAI*              |
|                                   |                                  |
| Lee Estep, *SSA*                  | Joseph Spruce, *SSAI -- Lead     |
|                                   | Author*                          |
| Bruce Lunde, *SSAI*               |                                  |
+-----------------------------------+----------------------------------+

# Table of Contents {#table-of-contents .Heading-NoTOC}

[Executive Summary v](#executive-summary)

[1.0 Introduction 1](#introduction)

[2.0 Description of NRT HABSOS Internet Mapping System
2](#description-of-nrt-habsos-internet-mapping-system)

[2.1 HABSOS IMS Prior to NRL MODIS Production Integration and NRT
Capabilities
2](#habsos-ims-prior-to-nrl-modis-production-integration-and-nrt-capabilities)

[2.2 NRT HABSOS IMS after NRL MODIS Production Integration
3](#nrt-habsos-ims-after-nrl-modis-production-integration)

[3.0 Methods for V&V of MODIS Product Assimilation into the NRT HABSOS
Mapping System
5](#methods-for-vv-of-modis-product-assimilation-into-the-nrt-habsos-mapping-system)

[4.0 Results of V&V Analyses 8](#results-of-vv-analyses)

[4.1 Summary of HABSOS End-user Requirements
8](#summary-of-habsos-end-user-requirements)

[4.2 Characterization of NRL MODIS Still-Frame Data Products within NRT
HABSOS IMS
8](#characterization-of-nrl-modis-still-frame-data-products-within-nrt-habsos-ims)

[4.3 V&V of Animated Multi-Temporal MODIS/NCOM Fusion Mapping Products
within NRT HABSOS IMS
14](#vv-of-animated-multi-temporal-modisncom-fusion-mapping-products-within-nrt-habsos-ims)

[4.4 Analysis of Data Volume Requirements for Generating NRL MODIS
Products Resident to the NRT HABSOS
16](#analysis-of-data-volume-requirements-for-generating-nrl-modis-products-resident-to-the-nrt-habsos)

[5.0 Conclusions and Recommendations
17](#conclusions-and-recommendations)

[6.0 References 21](#references)

[Appendix A. Summary of NASA REASoN Project with ACT Corporation and NRL
A-1](#summary-of-nasa-reason-project-with-act-corporation-and-nrl)

[Appendix B. Glossaries B-1](#glossaries)

[B.1. V&V Terminology Regarding Decision Support Tool Enhancement^1^
B-1](#vv-terminology-regarding-decision-support-tool-enhancement1)

[B.2. Ocean Color Terminology B-1](#ocean-color-terminology)

[B.3. HAB Forecasting Terminology B-4](#hab-forecasting-terminology)

[Appendix C. Acronyms C-1](#acronyms)

[Appendix D. List of All GIS Data Layers Resident to NRT HABSOS IMS
D-1](#list-of-all-gis-data-layers-resident-to-nrt-habsos-ims)

[Appendix E. List of NRL Ocean Data Products from MODIS and SeaWiFS Data
E-2](#list-of-nrl-ocean-data-products-from-modis-and-seawifs-data)

[Appendix F. List of HABSOS Project Partners with Hyperlinked URLs
F-4](#list-of-habsos-project-partners-with-hyperlinked-urls)

[Appendix G. List of NASA MODIS Ocean Data Products Generated for Global
and Regional Earth Science Research
G-5](#list-of-nasa-modis-ocean-data-products-generated-for-global-and-regional-earth-science-research)

[Appendix H. Additional Non-Cited References on NOAA HABSOS and Related
NOAA HAB Geospatial Decision Support Tools
H-7](#additional-non-cited-references-on-noaa-habsos-and-related-noaa-hab-geospatial-decision-support-tools)

# Tables {#tables .Heading-NoTOC}

[Table 1 NRL MODIS ocean data products resident to the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS
system. 4](#__RefHeading___Toc134533313)

[Table 2 Verified characteristics of NRL MODIS data products in NRT
HABSOS IMS (Products 1-5). 9](#__RefHeading___Toc134533314)

[Table 3 -- Verified characteristics of NRL MODIS data products in NRT
HABSOS IMS (Products 6-10). 10](#__RefHeading___Toc134533315)

[Table 4 -- Verified characteristics of NRL MODIS products compared to
standard NOAA CoastWatch products used in producing HAB Bulletin.
12](#__RefHeading___Toc134533316)

[Table 5 - Verified characteristics of NRL MODIS / NCOM animation fusion
products hyperlinked to NRT HABSOS IMS.
15](#__RefHeading___Toc134533317)

[Table 6 - Data Volume Requirements for NRL MODIS Products Posted in NRT
HABSOS 16](#__RefHeading___Toc134533318)

# Figures {#figures .Heading-NoTOC}

[Figure 1. Generalized flow of data to and from NRT HABSOS ArcIMS.
3](#__RefHeading___Toc134533319)

[Figure 2. NRT HABSOS display with NRL MODIS chlorophyll product in
foreground. 6](#__RefHeading___Toc134533320)

[Figure 3. NRT HABSOS display of NRL MODIS / NCOM fusion animation
product. 7](#__RefHeading___Toc134533321)

# Executive Summary {#executive-summary .unnumbered}

This report discusses verification and validation (V&V) assessment of
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ocean data
products contributed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Applied
Coherent Technologies (ACT) Corporation to National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration's (NOAA) Near Real Time (NRT) Harmful Algal BloomS
Observation System (HABSOS) decision support tool (DST). The latter is a
maturing DST used by NOAA and its partners involved with coastal and
public health management.

In 1999 NOAA began providing nowcasts and forecasts of HABs through the
HAB Bulletin, which became operational as the HAB Forecast System in
2004. The need to distribute the background data was recognized, as well
as the ability to conduct retrospective analyses of HAB events. HABSOS
was originally developed in 2001 to address these needs. HABSOS started
as a system for managing, integrating, and communicating historic
harmful algal bloom (HAB) data pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico. HABSOS
was expanded in 2004 to include two Internet Map Server (IMS) systems --
one for historic (HAB) data and the other for NRT HAB data. The NRT
HABSOS includes a wealth of NRT environmental information from the NRL
and ACT Corporation including MODIS ocean data products, Navy Coastal
Ocean Model (NCOM) modeling output, and multitemporal animation products
from the fusion of MODIS and NCOM output. The NRT HABSOS may provide a
comparable test bed with potential for improving the NOAA HAB Bulletin.

This V&V study aimed to assess how the MODIS ocean data products compare
to product metadata specifications and how the NRL MODIS data product
enhancement of the NRT HABSOS meets the needs of HABSOS end-users. In
the process, a literature review and interviews of HABSOS Federal agency
developers were performed to assess available information on end-user
requirements. All available metadata were reviewed and assessed for
completeness as a precursor for verifying how MODIS data products
resident to the NRT HABSOS compare to product specifications. MODIS data
products were also validated against perceived known end-user
requirements. Efforts were also made to characterize parameters not
specified in the metadata, yet important to HABSOS end-users.

NRT HABSOS end-users include coastal and public health managers, as well
as those involved with the development of decision-making information
products, such as geospatial models used in HAB detection, monitoring,
forecast warning, and other kinds of modeling. Some end-users need a HAB
geospatial data visualization capability, whereas others need access to
actual data output for use in modeling. HABSOS end-users vary in the
ability to understand and exploit the potential of remote sensing data
products in HAB mapping applications. Some HABSOS end-users perform
state of the art advanced oceanographic information extraction from
satellite imagery, though most end-users are novice to intermediate
level users of remote sensing ocean data products.

The results of the V&V analysis indicate that the MODIS ocean data
products generally compare well to the metadata, though not all of the
desired product specification variables are included in the metadata.
For example, accuracy of the NRT HABSOS MODIS data products is not
specified in the metadata, presumably due to the research or provisional
status of such products. The metadata also did not include information
on atmospheric correction, an important pre-processing step in
developing accurate ocean data products from satellite imagery.

The V&V study also enabled several recommendations on how to improve the
NRL MODIS data product enhancements to the NRT HABSOS. Efforts should be
made to provide additional information on the potential of individual
MODIS ocean data products for aiding HAB mapping applications. It would
help HAB modelers if MODIS ocean data products could be downloaded as
pseudo color imagery, preferably in floating point format. The inclusion
of real time or NRT in-situ HAB data would greatly enhance the utility
of the NRT HABSOS MODIS ocean data products. This should be done as
discussed by NOAA (2005). For qualified end-users, there should be a
means to download such in-situ data as well so that HAB modelers could
exploit MODIS ocean data products more effectively.

The NRT HABSOS is impressive from the geospatial data visualization
stand point, though improvements could be realized if there was a means
to interactively swipe one image data product across another, as is
commonly done with commercial off the shelf (COTS) remote sensing and
Geographic Information System (GIS) desktop computer software.. COTS and
open source GIS freeware packages are becoming better equipped to
incorporate multitemporal animation products as a layer in
two-dimensional or three-dimensional GIS. Once ArcIMS can accommodate
the NRL fusion animation products derived from MODIS and NCOM output,
such products should be directly integrated into HABSOS instead of
linking to a hyperlinked graphics interchange format (GIF) file. The
NRL, ACT Corporation, and NOAA should also provide additional metadata
on the MODIS data products resident to the NRT HABSOS, including more
information on atmospheric correction and thematic map accuracy.

The NRL produce MODIS ocean data products not currently resident to the
NRT HABSOS, yet they may have potential utility in HAB applications.
Based on available literature, additional NRL developed MODIS data
products should be considered for HABSOS inclusion. In addition, NASA
has developed MODIS fluorescence image data products that have been
shown to be useful for HAB detection and assessment. Such products
should also be considered inclusion into HABSOS.

This study did not directly employ end-users involved with real-world
HAB applications. A follow-up study may be needed using real end-users
to help evaluate the NRT HABSOS once subsequent improvements are made,
based on recommendations given herein.

# Introduction

The Harmful Algal Blooms Observation System (HABSOS) is a National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) maintained decision
support tool (DST) for aiding public health and coastal management of
harmful algal bloom (HAB) events in the Gulf of Mexico. HABSOS began in
2001 as an interagency effort for managing and communicating geospatial
HAB environmental data pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico. Doing so
required contributions of several Federal and State agencies to the NOAA
HAB data repository. Mexican states along the Gulf of Mexico have also
contributed data to the HABSOS, though to a lesser extent. The HABSOS
integrates various input data into a common Geographic Information
System (GIS) readable format and then allows end-users to visualize and
query these data using commercial Internet GIS technology. In doing so,
HAB and other environmental resource management professionals can
exploit HABSOS for specific mapping applications such as HAB event
assessment, forecasting, monitoring, mitigation, and management. HABSOS
gives its end-users an enhanced ability to assess environmental
conditions surrounding HAB events as they occur and may ultimately be
useful for developing HAB forecast models with quantitative
probabilities.

NOAA's National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) oversees the
development and maintenance of HABSOS, including public and controlled
access HABSOS web sites. Coastal and public health managers access the
suite of HABSOS Web sites at: <http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/habsos>. HABSOS
enables state managers to enter HAB data in real or near-real time. It
also includes two Internet GIS mapping systems, an internet mapping
service (IMS) for historic HAB data and a comparable system for
near-real time (NRT) HAB environmental data. Both of these systems
deploy ArcIMS^®^ software developed and sold by the Environmental
Systems Research Institute, Inc. ^®^ (ESRI).

The latter includes in-situ data on baseline geographic data on static
features of the Gulf, in-situ oceanographic data, in-situ data on HAB
cell counts, meteorological model data, and Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite image data products depicting
assorted environmental surface parameters. In conjunction with the
Applied Coherent Technologies (ACT) Corporation, the Naval Research
Laboratory (NRL) produces the aforementioned MODIS data products as part
of a Research, Education, and Applications Solutions Network (REASoN)
project that is supported by NASA. In doing so, the NRL provides MODIS
ocean color and sea surface temperature (SST) data products that are
posted daily on the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS.

HABSOS is one example of an emerging DST in which NASA contributions
(data, models, and expertise) may lead to improved decision making by
Federal and State government agencies. The implementation of this is a
multi-step process that involves: 1) evaluation of the DST for potential
of NASA contribution; 2) verification and validation (V&V) of the NASA
contribution to the DST; and 3) benchmarking of the NASA contribution to
the DST (see Appendix B.1 for additional information).

This report documents an effort to verify and validate the degree to
which MODIS ocean data products enhance the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS DST. In
doing so, it discusses the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS before and after infusion
of MODIS data products, methods for conducting V&V analyses, results of
the V&V analyses, conclusions, and recommendations for future work.

# Description of NRT HABSOS Internet Mapping System

This section describes the NRT HABSOS Internet Mapping System, before
and after the infusion of NASA MODIS ocean data products being developed
and posted by the NRL and ACT Corporation.

## HABSOS IMS Prior to NRL MODIS Production Integration and NRT Capabilities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NOAA led the effort to
develop the HABSOS initially as a pilot project, which ran from 2001
through 2004. This initial effort regarded development of a Gulf of
Mexico HABSOS for historic HAB data. Several publications discuss the
pilot HABSOS effort, including those by Malone (2001), Fisher et al.
(2003), Pennock et al. (2004), and NOAA (2005).

For the initial HABSOS, NOAA NCDDC integrated environmental HAB data
donated by the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Texas. In doing so, NOAA collected, converted, and geo-registered all
relevant data into common standard formats for Internet serving using
ArcIMS. Once built, the IMS was made publicly available to the HAB
management community at large, including Federal and State employees
working to develop HAB prediction, forecasting, transport modeling, and
monitoring capabilities.

The initial HABSOS effort included Gulf of Mexico case studies to assess
trends in environmental conditions for select years with prolific (1996
and 2000) as well as scarce HAB occurrence (1997). Such case studies
aided the development of remote sensing techniques now used in producing
the HAB Bulletin, NOAA's DST for alerting state managers about threats
from HABs. The effort focused on the West Shelf of South Florida, where
red tide creates havoc on nearly an annual basis. According to Culver
(2003), the HAB Bulletins can predict favorable conditions for red tide
in Southwest Florida with an estimated success rate of 80 percent or
more in the summer and fall. Such promising results helped NOAA to
transition the HAB Bulletin from research to operational status as of
fall 2004.

The HAB Bulletin has shown that satellite-based HAB environmental
information can be useful for assessing when and where HABs may occur.
However, HAB managers still need better forecasting capabilities in
order to improve management decision-making. Additional new remote
sensing ocean data products and new modeling techniques will improve HAB
forecasting accuracy both from a user and a producer prospective.
However, doing so involves not only integrated product research and
development, but also V&V of such products.

The initial HABSOS ArcIMS for historic HAB data helped to identify and
develop the technologies needed for HAB forecasting. However, it did not
include data of the current time frame, which was needed most for HAB
forecasting. Consequently, the HABSOS team developed a NRT ArcIMS for
HAB environmental data. This first prototype NRT HABSOS IMS was
developed during the closing months of the HABSOS pilot study described
above. The initial NRT system included in-situ data from buoys and
boats, meteorological and oceanographic modeling data, satellite data
depicting chlorophyll concentration from Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view
Sensor (SeaWiFS), and wind speed and direction from the Quick
Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) SeaWinds sensor. From the outset, the NRT IMS
included a few satellite remote sensing data products. The University of
South Florida provided the chlorophyll remote sensing data products,
while the NRT QuikSCAT data products came from NASA's NASA Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Physical Oceanography Distributed Active
Archive Center (DAAC).

## NRT HABSOS IMS after NRL MODIS Production Integration

In the summer of 2004, NOAA NCDDC expanded the NRT HABSOS system to
include a broader range of satellite ocean data products (Mesick 2004).
This occurred through partnership with NASA, the NRL, and the ACT
Corporation. Over the past decade, the NRL has worked with NASA and
others in the oceanographic community to produce a comprehensive suite
of satellite-based ocean color and SST data products, including those
generated from the MODIS Aqua and Terra satellite data. Starting in
2003, the NRL partnered with ACT Corporation in a reimbursable Space Act
Agreement with NASA to develop MODIS ocean data products and product
delivery services (See Appendix A). Part of the ACT/NRL REASoN project
involves production and posting of NRT MODIS ocean color and SST
products on the NRL Web site, which are subsequently posted on the NRT
HABSOS IMS. Once received, NOAA NCDDC integrates such products with
other environmental HAB data from satellites, buoys, boats, and model
runs. Figure 1 depicts the data flow into HABSOS where it is integrated
and served outward to the HAB end-user community via the internet.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image2.png)                                                 |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc134533319 .anchor}Figure 1. Generalized flow of |
| data to and from NRT HABSOS ArcIMS.                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

NOAA's NCCDC compiles and integrates several datasets, as well as
provides and maintains the system architecture for NRT HABSOS ArcIMS.
Depending on the data type, input HAB environmental data to this IMS is
refreshed daily to weekly. Older, less current data is reformatted and
sent to NOAA National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) for archival
(Mesick 2004). Currently this IMS does not include NRT in-situ HAB data
or satellite-based image products predicting HAB phytoplankton
concentration. However, the system will eventually include in-situ HAB
cell counts once the Harmful Algal Blooms Mapping System (HABMapS) of
the NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) is folded into the NRT HABSOS
ArcIMS as discussed by NOAA in the 2004 HABSOS/ Gulf of Mexico Coastal
Ocean Observation System (GCOOS) Workshop (NOAA 2005).

While NOAA leads the HABSOS development effort, several State and
Federal agencies also contribute data, models, and expertise. Federal
agency partners include the EPA, NRL, and NASA. State partners provide
most of the in-situ data regarding HAB events. Because HABs occur in
Florida almost annually, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
constitutes one of the most important state agency contributors to
HABSOS, effectively monitoring and managing HAB events in Florida
coastal waters for over 25 years.

To date, the NRT HABSOS system has incorporated several NRL MODIS
products, including eight MODIS ocean color and two SST data products
(Table 1). In doing so, NOAA NCDDC pulls these products from a NRL Web
site on a daily basis. As new MODIS data products are posted in HABSOS,
the old ones are removed from the IMS and archived. NOAA (2005) regards
this current system as an operational prototype with the implication
that facets of the system will eventually be adopted for operational
applications such as the GCOOS discussed by Malone (2004), Spinrad
(2004) and NOAA (2005). Note that the NRL MODIS ocean data products in
the NRT HABSOS are a subset of what the NRL produces (see Appendix E).
More information on ocean color terminology definitions can be found in
Appendix B.2.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533313 .anchor}Table 1 NRL MODIS ocean data
products resident to the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS system.

  ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------
  **Assigned   **NRL MODIS Ocean Data Product Description**
  Product      
  Number**     

  1            NRL/NASA/ESA Total absorption at 443 nm (7-day latest pixel
               composite (LPC))

  2            NRL/NASA/ESA Absorption from color dissolved organic matter
               (CDOM) at 412 nm (7-day LPC)

  3            NRL/NASA/ESA Absorption from phytoplankton at 443 nm (7-day
               LPC)

  4            NRL/NASA/ESA Backward scattering at 555 nm (7-day LPC)

  5            NRL/NASA/ESA Chlorophyll-a (7-day LPC)

  6            NRL/NASA/ESA Turbidity (7-day LPC -- Only For Mississippi
               Bight)

  7            NRL/NASA/ESA Latency (day) (Date of latest cloud free pixel
               value for 7-day time frame)

  8            NRL/NASA/ESA Latency (night) (Date of latest cloud free pixel
               value for 7-day time frame)

  9            NRL/NASA/ESA Sea Surface Temperature (day) (7-day LPC)

  10           NRL/NASA/ESA Sea Surface Temperature (night) (7-day LPC)
  ------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------

At this time, the capability of the NRT HABSOS IMS is new, still
developing, and under evaluation by the DST end-users. Non-remote
sensing savvy end-users have a low awareness about the actual and
potential HAB information value of MODIS products posted in the NRT
HABSOS. The latter includes posting of basic metadata for each
geospatial data layer, including the MODIS data products.

# Methods for V&V of MODIS Product Assimilation into the NRT HABSOS Mapping System

NASA's Applied Science Directorate includes efforts to enhance decision
support tools with NASA remote sensing data products, model, and
expertise. NASA works to enhance DSTs by using system engineering
principles and practices. The enhancement of a DST with remote sensing
data products includes the following processes: 1) evaluation of the DST
and its potential for enhancement with NASA contributions; 2) V&V of the
enhanced DST compared to the DST prior to NASA enhancement; and 3)
benchmarking of the NASA enhanced DST.

Ideally, the V&V component includes systematic characterizations of
product specifications and end-user requirements. It addresses if the
products are as advertised and whether or not these products fit the
needs of the end-users. The ability to conduct DST V&V assessments can
be limited by the maturity of the DST. However, by applying the V&V
processes to an immature DST, the resulting information can help to
accelerate the maturity of the DST. See Appendix B.1 for a glossary of
standard V&V terminology.

The V&V of the NRT HABSOS IMS involved a sequential series of steps. The
first step assessed NRT HABSOS ArcIMS end-user requirements with a focus
on NOAA, EPA, and State agency HABSOS end-users needs for HAB management
and mitigation (e.g., in terms of detection, monitoring, modeling,
prediction, and forecasting). The second step assessed the NASA remote
sensing products being used to enhance the DST. In this case, it regards
NRL developed MODIS ocean data products and how such products may
contribute to HABSOS applications and end-user decision making
capabilities.

HABSOS includes two general categories of MODIS ocean data products now
integrated into the NRT IMS: 1) daily refreshed still frame MODIS ocean
data products of specific environmental parameters; and 2) animations of
multi-temporal MODIS chlorophyll still frames merged with oceanographic
model data.

V&V analysis was performed for each MODIS still frame product in order
to insure that product parameters were documented, measured as feasible,
and validated against metadata. All of the NRL MODIS still frame
products in the NRT HABSOS IMS have corresponding metadata that can be
downloaded using the IMS graphical user interface (GUI). The metadata
was used in part to develop summary tables describing the MODIS data
products resident to the NRT HABSOS IMS. Individual MODIS data products
were also queried and visualized using the HABSOS DST (Figure 2).
Analysts also employed the NRT HABSOS IMS to view MODIS ocean data
products in relation to other geospatial data in the GIS (see Appendix D
for list of all geospatial data in the IMS). In addition, analysts
downloaded examples of each MODIS data product from the NRL source Web
site used by NOAA
(<http://cobalt.nrlssc.navy.mil:8000/dods-bin/nph-dods/browse/lvl4/blended>).
The NCDDC employs this Web site to refresh the NRT HABSOS IMS usually on
a daily basis. MODIS products downloaded from the NRL were subsequently
imported into ERDAS Imagine software. This was done to verify product
specifications against metadata supplied by the NRL to the NCDDC. In
addition, each product was further described in a systematic manner in
terms of additional image quality parameters not given in the metadata
yet obtainable from other sources.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image3.png)                                                 |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc134533320 .anchor}Figure 2. NRT HABSOS display  |
| with NRL MODIS chlorophyll product in foreground.                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

MODIS still frame products were also compared to standard products being
used by NOAA for developing HAB Bulletins. The latter typically employs
chlorophyll products generated by NOAA CoastWatch from SeaWiFS satellite
data. The HAB Bulletin also employs SST data products generated from the
NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data by
NOAA CoastWatch. The HABSOS IMS for historic HAB data also utilized
these NOAA standard satellite SST and chlorophyll products.

The V&V analyses considered all MODIS ocean data products currently in
the NRT HABSOS system, which includes the ArcIMS component, as well as a
component for viewing multi-temporal movies of oceanographic conditions
derived in part from MODIS data products. Examples of each data product
were viewed within the HABSOS ArcIMS and downloaded independently from
an NRL Web site in order to quantify product specifications and to
compare those specifications to HABSOS metadata, as well as comparable
standard data products used by NOAA HAB Bulletin. Efforts were made to
observe, quantify, verify, validate, and assess several parameters for
each data product whenever possible, using metadata, product formatting
information, and other documentation provided by the NRL.

Additional V&V analysis was conducted to assess multi-frame animation
products of MODIS chlorophyll imagery fused with oceanographic modeling
output from the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) (Figure 3). Such
products regard a sequential series of still frame data merges of MODIS
chlorophyll containing a latitude-longitude grid, ocean circulation flow
direction, sea surface salinity (SSS), and sea surface elevation (SSE)
also shown as overlain vectors, with each still frame of the chlorophyll
concentration representing the latest cloud-free pixel composite from a
seven day time sequence. Example animations were assessed quantitatively
and qualitatively for potential in assessing HAB movement and transport.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image4.png)                                                 |
|                                                                       |
| []{#__RefHeading___Toc134533321 .anchor}Figure 3. NRT HABSOS display  |
| of NRL MODIS / NCOM fusion animation product.                         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

An effort was also made to document software and hardware (e.g., data
volume) requirements for replicating the NRT HABSOS IMS with the NRL
MODIS product feed. The product delivery time was quantified and
assessed to document the average time frame from MODIS data retrieval by
the NRL to the posting of NRL MODIS products.

# Results of V&V Analyses

The V&V of the NRL MODIS products within the NRT HABSOS is discussed in
terms of the following sub-sections: 1) Summary of HABSOS End-user
Requirements; 2) Characterization of Still Frame MODIS Data Product
Inputs to the NRT HABSOS IMS; and 3) V&V Analysis for Multitemporal
MODIS / NCOM Fusion Animation Products Resident to the NRT HABSOS IMS.

## Summary of HABSOS End-user Requirements

End-users of the NRT HABSOS system vary in terms of organizational
representation and need. The primary end-users are Federal and State
agencies responsible for monitoring, managing, and mitigating HAB events
in relation to affected coastal communities and industries. This group
includes coastal and public health managers. HABSOS stakeholders can be
assessed by looking at the list of project partners given on the HABSOS
Web site (see Appendix F). HABSOS end-users also include researchers
working to develop and refine techniques for HAB event detection,
prediction forecasting, and monitoring (see Appendix B.3 for term
definitions of HAB mapping terminology). It was not possible to obtain a
detailed, quantitative summary on the population of actual HABSOS
end-users, though efforts were made to do so. By law, NOAA is restricted
in using the HABSOS Web site to collect this kind of information (Sharon
Mesick (NOAA), personal communication). However, much basic information
on the HABSOS end-user community can be gleaned from several workshops
related to HABSOS (NOAA (1997), EPA et al. (2000), EPA (2003), and NOAA
(2005)).

The HABSOS end-user community needs an up to date integrated, GIS-based
ocean observation system with real and near real time HAB environmental
data sufficient to enable improved means to detect, predict, forecast,
and monitor HAB events. Since its initiation in 2001, HABSOS has
functioned as a test bed for HAB managers and researchers to apply and
assess the HAB geospatial data and GIS technologies for HAB mapping
applications. The HABSOS IMS development initially focused on historic
HAB data that was applied to HAB hindcasting studies. Lessons learned
from the latter aided NOAA in developing HAB event prediction, mapping,
and monitoring techniques. In this way, HABSOS has contributed to the
development of the HAB Bulletin into an operational DST. NASA, NOAA, and
NRL collaborators on the NRT HABSOS project believe the contribution of
NRL MODIS ocean data products will help to further improve HAB related
mapping and decision support by enabling satellite, in-situ data, and
modeling results to be integrated and posted in near real time
(McPherson and Beard (2005); and Friedl and Hall (2005)).

## Characterization of NRL MODIS Still-Frame Data Products within NRT HABSOS IMS

The NRT HABSOS IMS presently includes 10 NRL-contributed MODIS ocean
data products listed in Table 1. These products constitute the only
satellite-based synoptic mapping products resident to HABSOS, other than
QuikSCAT wind speed and direction data products. HABSOS offers a wealth
of additional environmental data collected by in-situ observation or by
modeling estimates. A complete list of all GIS data layers resident to
the NRT HABSOS IMS is located in Appendix D.

NRL MODIS product description and specification verification results are
given in Table 2 and Table 3. Each of these tables describes product
parameters for five corresponding NRL MODIS products. In doing so, each
product's characterization is reported in terms of 32 parameters. These
results focused on what was given for metadata and the physical
characteristics of the examples for each MODIS data product posted in
the NRT HABSOS IMS. When feasible, metadata product specifications were
verified using APS software and applicable MODIS data to generate
comparable products to what is posted in the NRT HABSOS.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533314 .anchor}Table 2 Verified characteristics
of NRL MODIS data products in NRT HABSOS IMS (Products 1-5).

+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Product        | **      |         |         |         |         |
| Parameter**      | Product |         |         |         |         |
|                  | Name    |         |         |         |         |
|                  | (P      |         |         |         |         |
|                  | roducts |         |         |         |         |
|                  | 1-5)**  |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                  | **Total | **Abs   | **Abs   | **B     | **Chlo  |
|                  | Abs     | orption | orption | ackward | rophyll |
|                  | orption | CDOM @  | of      | Sca     | C       |
|                  | @ 443   | 412     | Phytop  | ttering | oncentr |
|                  | nm**    | nm**    | lankton | @ 555   | ation** |
|                  |         |         | @ 443   | nm**    |         |
|                  |         |         | nm**    |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 1\) NRL Product  | a443    | adg412  | aph443  | bb555   | Chl     |
| Acronym          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 2\) Image File   | PNG     | PNG     | PNG     | PNG     | PNG     |
| Format           | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)   |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 3\) \# Days of   | 7 day   | 7 day   | 7 day   | 7 day   | 7 day   |
| Data Used For    | LPC     | LPC     | LPC     | LPC     | LPC     |
| Product          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 4\) Algorithm    | ^1^QAA  | QAA     | QAA     | QAA     | NASA    |
| used to generate |         |         |         |         | (non-sp |
| product          |         |         |         |         | ecific) |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 5\) Software     | APS     | APS     | APS     | APS     | APS     |
| used to generate |         |         |         |         |         |
| product          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 6\) NRL          | L4      | L4      | L4      | L4      | L4      |
| Processing Level |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 7\) Blended or   | Blended | Blended | Blended | Blended | Blended |
| not              |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 8\) Map Extent   | ^2^GOM  | GOM     | GOM     | GOM     | GOM     |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 9\) Map          | E       | E       | E       | E       | E       |
| Projection       | quirect | quirect | quirect | quirect | quirect |
|                  | angular | angular | angular | angular | angular |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 10\) Map Datum   | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84   |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 11\) Horizontal  | Decimal | Decimal | Decimal | Decimal | Decimal |
| Positional       | Degrees | Degrees | Degrees | Degrees | Degrees |
| Mapping Units    |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 12\) Source of   | m       | m       | m       | m       | m       |
| Map Projection   | etadata | etadata | etadata | etadata | etadata |
| Parameters       | and pgw | and pgw | and pgw | and pgw | and pgw |
|                  | files   | files   | files   | files   | files   |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 13\) Inherent    | 1/m     | 1/m     | 1/m     | 1/m     | mg/m^3^ |
| Measurement      |         |         |         |         |         |
| Units of Main    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Observable       |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 14\) Range in    | .005 to | 0.005   | .0005   | .0005   | .01 to  |
| Data Values      | 1.5     | to .50  | to 1.0  | to .50  | 45      |
| (Based on Map    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Legend)          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 15\) Nominal     | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.01    |
| Spatial          | 0005003 | 0005003 | 0005003 | 0005003 | 0005003 |
| Resolution X (in |         |         |         |         |         |
| Degrees          |         |         |         |         |         |
| Decimal) - from  |         |         |         |         |         |
| pgw file         |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 16\) Nominal     | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.00    |
| Spatial          | 9209653 | 9209653 | 9209653 | 9209653 | 9209653 |
| Resolution Y (in |         |         |         |         |         |
| Degrees          |         |         |         |         |         |
| Decimal) - from  |         |         |         |         |         |
| pgw file         |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 17\) Measured    | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  |
| Spatial          |         |         |         |         |         |
| Resolution       |         |         |         |         |         |
| (kilometers)     |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 18\) Temporal    | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day   |
| Resolution       |         |         |         |         |         |
| (Product Refresh |         |         |         |         |         |
| Rate)            |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 19\) \# Color    | 3       | 3       | 3       | 3       | 3       |
| Planes / Image   |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 20\) Color       | ^3^8    | 8 bits  | 8 bits  | 8 bits  | 8 bits  |
| Table - Dynamic  | bits    |         |         |         |         |
| Range Per Color  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Plane            |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 21\) Color       | ^4^24   | 24 bits | 24 bits | 24 bits | 24 bits |
| Table - Total    | bits    |         |         |         |         |
| Effective        |         |         |         |         |         |
| Dynamic Range    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Per RGB file     |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 22\) Probable    | F       | F       | F       | F       | F       |
| Binning of       | loating | loating | loating | loating | loating |
| Thematic Map     | Point   | Point   | Point   | Point   | Point   |
| Product          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 23\) Pixels per  | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2000x   |
| Channel (X and Y | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1740y   |
| width)           |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 24\) Typical     | 1.6     | 1.8     | 1.8     | 1.8     | 1.4     |
| Data Volume per  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Output Product   |         |         |         |         |         |
| (Mb)             |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 25\) Accuracy of | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unsp    |
| Estimated        | ecified | ecified | ecified | ecified | ecified |
| Parameter        |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 26\) Can Data    | No      | No      | No      | No      | No      |
| Product Be       |         |         |         |         |         |
| Downloaded from  |         |         |         |         |         |
| HABSOS?          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 27\) Metadata -  | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%   |
| % Completeness   |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 28\) GIS         | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     |
| Readability of   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Product          |         |         |         |         |         |
| Downloaded from  |         |         |         |         |         |
| NRL              |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 29\) Direct GIS  | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial |
| Queryability -   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   |
| X,Y,Z Values for |         |         |         |         |         |
| Selected MODIS   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Product Using    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Cursor?          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 30\) Indirect    | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     |
| GIS Queryability |         |         |         |         |         |
| of Z Values for  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Selected MODIS   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Product via Map  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Legend           |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 31\) Direct GIS  | No      | No      | No      | No      | No      |
| Queryability -   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Ancillary Raster |         |         |         |         |         |
| Attributes?      |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 32\) Can Product | No      | No      | No      | No      | No      |
| Be Directly      |         |         |         |         |         |
| Input Into A     |         |         |         |         |         |
| Model?           |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| ^1^QAA =         |         |         |         |         |         |
| Quasi-Analytical |         |         |         |         |         |
| Algorithm -- see |         |         |         |         |         |
| Lee et al.       |         |         |         |         |         |
| (2002)           |         |         |         |         |         |
|                  |         |         |         |         |         |
| ^2^GOM = Gulf of |         |         |         |         |         |
| Mexico Region    |         |         |         |         |         |
| (Includes Areas  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Outside of       |         |         |         |         |         |
| United States)   |         |         |         |         |         |
|                  |         |         |         |         |         |
| ^3^8 Bits = 256  |         |         |         |         |         |
| Gray Scale       |         |         |         |         |         |
| Values           |         |         |         |         |         |
|                  |         |         |         |         |         |
| ^4^24 Bits = 3   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Color Planes of  |         |         |         |         |         |
| 8 Bits Per       |         |         |         |         |         |
| Channel          |         |         |         |         |         |
+------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533315 .anchor}Table 3 -- Verified
characteristics of NRL MODIS data products in NRT HABSOS IMS (Products
6-10).

+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| **Product          | **      |         |         |         |        |
| Parameter**        | Product |         |         |         |        |
|                    | Name    |         |         |         |        |
|                    | (P      |         |         |         |        |
|                    | roducts |         |         |         |        |
|                    | 6-10)** |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
|                    | **SST   | **SST   | **      | **      | *      |
|                    | (Day)** | (N      | Latency | Latency | *Turbi |
|                    |         | ight)** | (Day)** | (N      | dity** |
|                    |         |         |         | ight)** |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 1\) NRL Product    | sst_day | ss      | late    | latenc  | beam-c |
| Acronym            |         | t_night | ncy_day | y_night | (648)  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 2\) Image File     | PNG     | PNG     | PNG     | PNG     | PNG    |
| Format             | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)   | (RGB)  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 3\) \# Days of     | 7 day   | 7 day   | 7 day   | 7 day   | Daily  |
| Data Used For      | LPC     | LPC     | LPC     | LPC     | Mosaic |
| Product            |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 4\) Algorithm used | NASA    | NASA    | No      | No      | Alg    |
| to generate        | (non    | (non-sp | m       | m       | orithm |
| product            | sp      | ecific) | etadata | etadata | not    |
|                    | ecific) |         |         |         | given  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 5\) Software used  | APS     | APS     | APS     | APS     | APS    |
| to generate        |         |         |         |         |        |
| product            |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 6\) NRL Processing | L4      | L4      | L4      | L4      | L3     |
| Level              |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 7\) Blended or not | Blended | Blended | Blended | Blended | Not    |
|                    |         |         |         |         | B      |
|                    |         |         |         |         | lended |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 8\) Map Extent     | ^1^GOM  | GOM     | GOM     | GOM     | MS     |
|                    |         |         |         |         | Bight  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 9\) Map Projection | E       | E       | E       | E       | Me     |
|                    | quirect | quirect | quirect | quirect | rcator |
|                    | angular | angular | angular | angular |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 10\) Map Datum     | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84   | WGS84  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 11\) Horizontal    | Decimal | Decimal | Decimal | Decimal | D      |
| Positional Mapping | Degrees | Degrees | Degrees | Degrees | ecimal |
| Units              |         |         |         |         | D      |
|                    |         |         |         |         | egrees |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 12\) Source of Map | m       | m       | pgw     | pgw     | me     |
| Projection         | etadata | etadata | files   | files   | tadata |
| Parameters         | and pgw | and pgw |         |         | and    |
|                    | files   | files   |         |         | pgw    |
|                    |         |         |         |         | files  |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 13\) Inherent      | Degrees | Degrees | \# days | \# days | 1/m    |
| Measurement Units  | Celsius | Celsius | old     | old     |        |
| of Main Observable |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 14\) Range in Data | 16.19   |  16.19  | 7 days  | 7 days  | 5 to   |
| Values (Based on   | to      | to      |         |         | 0.5    |
| Map Legend)        | 32.20   | 32.20   |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 15\) Nominal       | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.01    | 0.002  |
| Spatial Resolution | 0005003 | 0005003 | 0005003 | 0005003 | 501042 |
| X (dd) - from pgw  |         |         |         |         |        |
| file               |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 16\) Nominal       | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.00    | 0.002  |
| Spatial Resolution | 9209653 | 9209653 | 9209653 | 9209653 | 154452 |
| Y (dd) - from pgw  |         |         |         |         |        |
| file               |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 17\) Measured      | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | 1.1 km  | \~250  |
| Spatial Resolution |         |         |         |         | m      |
| (km)               |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 18\) Temporal      | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day   | 1/day  |
| Resolution         |         |         |         |         |        |
| (Product Refresh   |         |         |         |         |        |
| Rate)              |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 19\) \# Color      | 3       | 3       | 3       | 3       | 3      |
| Planes / Image     |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 20\) Color Table - | ^2^8    | 8 bits  | 8 bits  | 8 bits  | 8 bits |
| Dynamic Range Per  | bits    |         |         |         |        |
| Color Plane        |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 21\) Color Table - | ^3^24   | 24 bits | 24 bits | 24 bits | 24     |
| Total Effective    | bits    |         |         |         | bits   |
| Dynamic Range Per  |         |         |         |         |        |
| RGB file           |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 22\) Apparent      | F       | F       | 8       | 8       | Fl     |
| Binning of         | loating | loating | bi      | bi      | oating |
| Thematic Map       | Point   | Point   | ts/file | ts/file | Point  |
| Product            |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 23\) Pixels per    | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2000x   | 2400x  |
| Channel (X and Y   | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1740y   | 1200y  |
| width)             |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 24\) Typical Data  | 2.4     | 2.8     | 0.4     | 0.2     | 1.7    |
| Volume per Output  |         |         |         |         |        |
| Product (Mb)       |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 25\) Accuracy of   | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unsp    | Unspe  |
| Estimated          | ecified | ecified | ecified | ecified | cified |
| Parameter          |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 26\) Can Data      | No      | No      | No      | No      | No     |
| Product Be         |         |         |         |         |        |
| Downloaded from    |         |         |         |         |        |
| HABSOS?            |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 27\) Metadata - %  | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%   | \~90%  |
| Completeness       |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 28\) GIS           | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes    |
| Readability of     |         |         |         |         |        |
| Product Downloaded |         |         |         |         |        |
| from NRL           |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 29\) GIS           | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | P      |
| Queryability -     | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | (X,Y)   | artial |
| X,Y,Z Values for   |         |         |         |         | (X,Y)  |
| Selected MODIS     |         |         |         |         |        |
| Product Using      |         |         |         |         |        |
| Cursor?            |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 30\) Indirect GIS  | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes     | Yes    |
| Queryability of Z  |         |         |         |         |        |
| Values for         |         |         |         |         |        |
| Selected MODIS     |         |         |         |         |        |
| Product via Map    |         |         |         |         |        |
| Legend             |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 31\) GIS           | No      | No      | No      | No      | No     |
| Queryability -     |         |         |         |         |        |
| Ancillary Raster   |         |         |         |         |        |
| Attributes?        |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| 32\) Can Product   | No      | No      | No      | No      | No     |
| Be Directly Input  |         |         |         |         |        |
| Into A Model?      |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+
| ^1^GOM = Gulf of   |         |         |         |         |        |
| Mexico Region      |         |         |         |         |        |
| (Includes Areas    |         |         |         |         |        |
| Outside of United  |         |         |         |         |        |
| States)            |         |         |         |         |        |
|                    |         |         |         |         |        |
| ^2^8 Bits = 256    |         |         |         |         |        |
| Gray Scale Values  |         |         |         |         |        |
|                    |         |         |         |         |        |
| ^3^24 Bits = 3     |         |         |         |         |        |
| Color Planes of 8  |         |         |         |         |        |
| Bits Per Channel   |         |         |         |         |        |
+--------------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+--------+

The NRL MODIS products found in HABSOS are raster-based image map
representations of modeling output from the NRL Automated Processing
System (APS) software. These products are displayed in singular fashion
with vector overlays and corresponding legend. The NRT HABSOS end-user
cannot query the value (i.e. digital number) of a given thematic raster
map product. This is in part due to current, state-of-the-art,
commercial, off-the-shelf internet map server technology. The coordinate
information of a given MODIS product can be directly queried on the NRT
HABSOS, using a cursor.

The map projection information for the MODIS data products is reported
collectively in the metadata and portable graphics world (pgw) file that
accompanies the portable graphics network (png) graphics file. The
latter is the actual MODIS data product, the pgw sub-file is needed to
display a png file properly in a given GIS. The spatial resolution of
the NRL MODIS data products are 1.1 by 1.1 square kilometers when
re-projected to a map projection scaled in meters (e.g. Albers). The
accuracy of the MODIS ocean data product measurements were not specified
in the metadata, though the metadata overall appeared to be relatively
complete. However, the algorithms used to generate some of the products
were not always specifically mentioned. In particular, the metadata
referred to the NRL MODIS chlorophyll product algorithm as NASA and not
as a specific algorithm. The MODIS data products as Red, Green, Blue
(RGB) image maps could not be input into multivariate models. These
products cannot be individually downloaded from the HABSOS Web site.

In addition, V&V comparisons were made between the NRL MODIS products in
HABSOS and the Standard CoastWatch products used to develop HAB
Bulletins. This analysis yielded some interesting results, focusing on
chlorophyll and SST imagery. The MODIS products were produced at a
higher spatial resolution and offer a means to mitigate cloud cover by
employing the latest pixel composite approach. The CoastWatch products
of SST from AVHRR and chlorophyll concentration levels from SeaWiFS were
single date products, which can be problematic during certain times of
the year when cloud cover is persistent (e.g., summer months) in the
Gulf of Mexico. On the other hand, the NOAA standard product metadata
specified product accuracy, whereas the NRL MODIS product metadata
specify product accuracy, even with respect to horizontal positional
accuracy. The NRL MODIS products are considered provisional products,
while the NOAA CoastWatch products are regarded as operational. Neither
the NRL MODIS nor the aforementioned CoastWatch products were in a
format suitable for input to multivariate models. This may be attributed
to the perceived needs of end-users of these products. Those needing
CoastWatch SST and Chlorophyll products with full resolution thematic
maps with real digital numbers as opposed to geo-referenced RGB image
maps may be able to acquire such data by directly contacting NOAA. The
metadata for the NOAA CoastWatch products appears to be more complete
when compared to the NRL MODIS product metadata.

The NRL MODIS products were blended with MODIS Aqua and Terra data,
according to available metadata and other documentation. However, this
may not be the case due to issues with the MODIS Terra system. The NRL
MODIS product line contains more variety of ocean color products
compared to the products that NOAA CoastWatch provides. The NRL MODIS
ocean data products offer additional and/or complementary capability to
the NOAA CoastWatch products in HAB mapping applications such as the HAB
Bulletin.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533316 .anchor}Table 4 -- Verified
characteristics of NRL MODIS products compared to standard NOAA
CoastWatch products used in producing HAB Bulletin.

+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| **Product       | **NRL      | **NRL      | **NOAA   | **NOAA      |
| Parameter**     | MODIS      | MODIS SST  | Standard | Standard    |
|                 | Chl        | (Day or    | Chlor    | SST         |
|                 | orophyll-a | Night)**   | ophyll-a | (CoastWatch |
|                 | Conce      |            | (Co      | AVHRR)**    |
|                 | ntration** |            | astWatch |             |
|                 |            |            | Se       |             |
|                 |            |            | aWiFS)** |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 1\) Product     | Public     | Public     | Public   | Public      |
| Accessibility   | Access     | Access     | Access   | Access      |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 2\) Satellite   | Ocean      | Ocean      | Ocean    | Ocean       |
| Data Product    | Env        | Env        | Envir    | En          |
| Type            | ironmental | ironmental | onmental | vironmental |
|                 | Parameter  | Parameter  | P        | Parameter   |
|                 | Image Map  | Image Map  | arameter | Image Map   |
|                 |            |            | Image    |             |
|                 |            |            | Map      |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 3\) Product     | PNG (RGB)  | PNG (RGB)  | PNG      | PNG (RGB)   |
| File Format     |            |            | (RGB)    |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 4\) \# Days of  | 7 day LPC  | 7 day LPC  | Single   | Single Date |
| Data Used For   |            |            | Date     |             |
| Product         |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 5\) Algorithm   | NASA       | NASA       | NOAA     | NOAA        |
| used to         | (non       | (non       | (Stumpf) | (no         |
| generate        | -specific) | -specific) |          | n-specific) |
| product         |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 6\) Software    | APS        | APS        | Uns      | Unspecified |
| used to         |            |            | pecified |             |
| generate        |            |            |          |             |
| product         |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 7\) Product     | Level 4    | Level 4    | N/A      | N/A         |
| Processing      | (NRL)      | (NRL)      |          |             |
| Level           |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 8\) Blended or  | Blended    | Blended    | Not      | Not Blended |
| not (using data | (Aqua and  | (Aqua and  | Blended  | (either     |
| from multiple   | Terra)     | Terra)     |          | AVHRR 16 or |
| sensors)        |            |            |          | 17)         |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 9\) Map Extent  | ^1^GOM     | GOM        | GOM      | GOM         |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 10\) Map        | Equir      | Equir      | Mercator | Mercator    |
| Projection      | ectangular | ectangular |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 11\) Map Datum  | WGS84      | WGS84      | WGS84    | WGS84       |
|                 |            |            | (i       |             |
|                 |            |            | nferred) |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 12\) Horizontal | Decimal    | Decimal    | Meters   | Meters      |
| Positional      | Degrees    | Degrees    |          |             |
| Mapping Units   |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 13\) Inherent   | mg/m^3^    | Degrees    | mg/m^3^  | Degrees     |
| Measurement     |            | Celsius    |          | Celsius     |
| Units of        |            |            |          |             |
| Observed        |            |            |          |             |
| Parameter       |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 14\) Range in   | .01 to 45  | 16.19 to   | .001 to  | 0 to \~36.5 |
| Data Values on  |            | 32.20      | 64.767   |             |
| Map Legend      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 15\) Source for | Map Legend | Map Legend | Metadata | Map         |
| Range of Data   |            |            |          |             |
| Value           |            |            |          |             |
| Parameters      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 16\) Reported   | 0.         | 0.         | 1.39 km  | 1.47 km     |
| Nominal Spatial | 0100050025 | 0100050025 | (full    | (full       |
| Resolution In   |            |            | res      | resolution) |
| Degrees (X      |            |            | olution) |             |
| direction)      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 17\) Reported   | 0.         | 0.         | 1.39 km  | 1.47 km     |
| Nominal Spatial | 0092096534 | 0092096534 | (full    | (full       |
| Resolution In   |            |            | res      | resolution) |
| Degrees (Y      |            |            | olution) |             |
| direction)      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 18\)            | pgw file   | pgw file   | png file | png file    |
| Information     |            |            | (main    | (main       |
| Source for      |            |            | product) | product)    |
| Spatial         |            |            |          |             |
| Resolution      |            |            |          |             |
| Parameter       |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 19\) Estimated  | 1.128 km   | 1.128 km   | ^2^3.418 | 3.418 km    |
| Spatial         |            |            | km       | (inferred)  |
| Resolution (km) |            |            |          |             |
| in both X and Y |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 20\) Reported   | U          | U          | \<= 1 km | \<= 1 km    |
| Horizontal      | nspecified | nspecified |          |             |
| Positional      |            |            |          |             |
| Accuracy        |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 21\) Measured   | +/- 1.07   | +/- 1.07   | +/-      | +/- 0.9001  |
| Relative        | pixels (11 | pixels (11 | 0.9001   | pixels (15  |
| Horizontal      | ground     | ground     | pixels   | ground      |
| Positional      | control    | control    | (15      | control     |
| Accuracy        | points)    | points)    | ground   | points)     |
| (Overall RMSE   |            | (inferred) | control  | (inferred)  |
| in p/m Pixels   |            |            | points)  |             |
| and \# Ground   |            |            |          |             |
| Control Points) |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 22\) Reference  | MODIS Land | MODIS Land | Ge       | Geographic  |
| Geospatial Data | Cover      | Cover      | ographic | Grid on     |
| Set for         | Product    | Product    | Grid on  | Actual      |
| Horizontal      |            |            | Actual   | Product     |
| Positional      |            |            | Product  |             |
| Accuracy        |            |            |          |             |
| Assessment      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 23\) Temporal   | 1/day      | 1/day      | 1/day    | 1/day/AVHRR |
| Resolution      | (inferred) | (inferred) |          | sensor      |
| (Refresh Rate   |            |            |          |             |
| of New          |            |            |          |             |
| Products)       |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 24\) Delivery   | U          | U          | Within 8 | Within 4    |
| Rate -- Time    | nspecified | nspecified | hrs of   | hrs of data |
| from Data       |            |            | data     | collection  |
| Collection to   |            |            | co       |             |
| Product         |            |            | llection |             |
| Delivery        |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 25\) Color      | 3          | 3          | 3        | 3           |
| Table - Color   |            |            |          |             |
| Planes          |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 26\) Color      | ^3^8       | 8          | 8        | 8 bits/file |
| Table - Dynamic | bits/file  | bits/file  | b        |             |
| Range / Color   |            |            | its/file |             |
| Plane           |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 27\) Color      | ^4^24      | 24         | 24       | 8 bits/file |
| Table - Total   | bits/file  | bits/file  | b        |             |
| Effective       |            |            | its/file |             |
| Dynamic Range   |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 28\) Original   | Floating   | Floating   | Floating | Floating    |
| Binning of      | Point      | Point      | Point    | Point       |
| Thematic Map    |            |            |          |             |
| Product         |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 29\) Measured   | 2000x      | 2000x      | 878x     | 870x 516y   |
| Image           | 1740y      | 1740y      | 505y     |             |
| Dimensions (#   |            |            |          |             |
| Pixels X and Y) |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 30\) Typical    | 1.4        | 2.4 (day)  | 0.4      | 0.6         |
| Data Volume per |            | to 2.8     |          |             |
| Output Product  |            | (night)    |          |             |
| (Mb)            |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 31\) Accuracy   | U          | U          | +/- 10%  | +/- 2       |
| of Estimated    | nspecified | nspecified |          | Degrees C   |
| Parameter       |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 32\) Can GIS    | No         | No         | Yes      | Yes         |
| Formatted Data  |            |            |          |             |
| Product Be      |            |            |          |             |
| Downloaded?     |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 33\) Metadata - | \~90%      | \~90%      | \~95 to  | \~95 to     |
| % Completeness  |            |            | 100%     | 100%        |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 34\) GIS        | Yes        | Yes        | Yes      | Yes         |
| Readable        |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 35\) GIS        | Partial (X | Partial (X | Partial  | Partial (X  |
| Queryability of | and Y)     | and Y)     | (X and   | and Y)      |
| X,Y,Z Values    |            |            | Y)       |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 36\) GIS        | No         | No         | No       | No          |
| Queryability of |            |            |          |             |
| Ancillary       |            |            |          |             |
| Raster          |            |            |          |             |
| Attributes      |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 37\) Can        | No         | No         | No       | No          |
| Product Be      |            |            |          |             |
| Directly Input  |            |            |          |             |
| Into a          |            |            |          |             |
| Geospatial      |            |            |          |             |
| Model?          |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| 38\) File name  | Yes        | Yes        | Yes      | Yes         |
| with standard   |            |            |          |             |
| naming          |            |            |          |             |
| conventions     |            |            |          |             |
| applied         |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+
| ^1^GOM = Gulf   |            |            |          |             |
| of Mexico       |            |            |          |             |
| Region          |            |            |          |             |
| (Includes Areas |            |            |          |             |
| Outside of      |            |            |          |             |
| United States)  |            |            |          |             |
|                 |            |            |          |             |
| ^2^Estimated    |            |            |          |             |
| Spatial         |            |            |          |             |
| Resolution --   |            |            |          |             |
| Alternative     |            |            |          |             |
| geo-referencing |            |            |          |             |
| via tic marks   |            |            |          |             |
| gave 3.181km    |            |            |          |             |
| cell size and   |            |            |          |             |
| +/- .0138 pixel |            |            |          |             |
| RMSE            |            |            |          |             |
|                 |            |            |          |             |
| ^3^8 Bits = 256 |            |            |          |             |
| Gray Scale      |            |            |          |             |
| Values Per      |            |            |          |             |
| Channel (i.e.   |            |            |          |             |
| File)           |            |            |          |             |
|                 |            |            |          |             |
| ^4^24 Bits = 3  |            |            |          |             |
| Color Planes of |            |            |          |             |
| 8 Bits Per      |            |            |          |             |
| Channel (24     |            |            |          |             |
| Bits/Graphics   |            |            |          |             |
| File)           |            |            |          |             |
+-----------------+------------+------------+----------+-------------+

## V&V of Animated Multi-Temporal MODIS/NCOM Fusion Mapping Products within NRT HABSOS IMS

The animated product V&V results are summarized in Table 5 given below.
These animations include one for the Gulf of Mexico at large, plus four
additional areas of interest within the United States portion of the
northern Gulf of Mexico. All files are in animated graphics interchange
format (GIF) format with assorted vector data overlain onto
chlorophyll-a abundance image derived from MODIS Aqua data. The
animation is for a time sequence up to present date. The number of
sampled time frames appears to vary depending on time of month. The
documentation on the HABSOS Web site suggests that the time sequence is
kept constant at a seven-day time span. However, the HABSOS Web site has
shown that the time sequence can include at least 13 sample frames with
each frame including a latest pixel composite of a MODIS chlorophyll-
image derived with the OC3m algorithm. These animations are not embedded
into the HABSOS IMS but instead offered as a hyperlink. The vector
component of each image map includes: 1) a Latitude/Longitude Grid from
the APS software; 2) sea surface salinity (SSS) from NCOM; 3) sea
surface height (SSH) from NCOM, and 4) sea surface circulation from
NCOM. The animation allows HABSOS viewers to look at trends in sea
surface physical properties with respect to coastal areas of interest.
For example, this product may be used in part for tracking, assessing,
and predicting impacts of an incoming HAB event.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533317 .anchor}Table 5 - Verified
characteristics of NRL MODIS / NCOM animation fusion products
hyperlinked to NRT HABSOS IMS.

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
  **General Product **Specific                                                              
  Output            Regions in Gulf                                                         
  Parameters**      of Mexico with                                                          
                    Animated Output                                                         
                    Products**                                                              

                    **Gulf of Mexico  **Mississippi     **Tampa Bay       **Texas Gulf      **West Shelf
                    Overview**        Bight**           Florida**         Coast**           Florida**

  *Availability of  No                No                No                No                No
  Product Metadata                                                                          
  on HABSOS IMS*                                                                            

  *Availability of  Some              Some              Some              Some              Some
  Metadata on                                                                               
  Product Inputs*                                                                           

  *Product          Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes               Yes
  Downloadable From                                                                         
  NRL Link*                                                                                 

  *Output Format*   Animated GIF      Animated GIF      Animated GIF      Animated GIF      Animated GIF

  *Output Dynamic   8 bits            8 bits            8 bits            8 bits            8 bits
  Range*                                                                                    

  *Effective        24 bits           24 bits           24 bits           24 bits           24 bits
  Dynamic Range                                                                             
  Using Color                                                                               
  Tables*                                                                                   

  *\# Pixels in X   1120x 895y        1008x 760y        954x 986y         1033x 733y        970x 868y
  and Y / Region*                                                                           

  *Highest Noted    13 frames - each  13 frame - each a 13 frame - each a 13 frames - each  13 frames - each
  Sampled Time      a LPC             LPC               LPC               a LPC             a LPC
  Frame / Region*                                                                           

  *Data Volume Per  4.835             2.572             2.994             3.147             3.436
  Region (Mb)*                                                                              

  *Data Volume Per  0.403             0.214             0.250             0.26225           0.286
  Frame Per Region                                                                          
  (Mb)*                                                                                     

  *Measured Output  2.047 km          0.585 km          0.315 km          0.820 km          0.822 km
  Pixel Width and                                                                           
  Height*                                                                                   

  **Parameters for  **MODIS Aqua      **MODIS Aqua      **MODIS Aqua      **MODIS Aqua      **MODIS Aqua
  Product Input 1 - Chlorophyll**     Chlorophyll**     Chlorophyll**     Chlorophyll**     Chlorophyll**
  Chlorophyll-a                                                                             
  concentration**                                                                           

  *Data Type*       Thematic Raster   Thematic Raster   Thematic Raster   Thematic Raster   Thematic Raster

  *Measurement      mg/cubic meters   mg/cubic meters   mg/cubic meters   mg/cubic meters   mg/cubic meters
  Units*                                                                                    

  *Scaling Range*   0.01 to 45        0.01 to 45        0.01 to 45        0.01 to 45        0.01 to 45

  *Source Data*     MODIS Aqua        MODIS Aqua        MODIS Aqua        MODIS Aqua        MODIS Aqua

  *Processing       OC3M LPC          OC3M LPC          OC3M LPC          OC3M LPC          OC3M LPC
  Algorithms*                                                                               

  *Source Software* APS software      APS software      APS software      APS software      APS software

  **Parameters for  **Geographic      **Geographic      **Geographic      **Geographic      **Geographic
  Product Input 2 - Coordinate Grid** Coordinate Grid** Coordinate Grid** Coordinate Grid** Coordinate Grid**
  Geographic                                                                                
  Coordinate Grid**                                                                         

  *Data Type*       Vector Grid       Vector Grid       Vector Grid       Vector Grid       Vector Grid

  *Measurement      Geographic        Geographic        Geographic        Geographic        Geographic
  Units*            Degrees           Degrees           Degrees           Degrees           Degrees

  *Scaling Range*   19 to 31 Degrees  28.4 to 30.8      26.4 to 28.0      26.5 to 30.5      26 to 30 Degrees
                    North and 82 to   Degrees North and Degrees North and Degrees North and North and 82 to
                    98 Degrees West   87 to 90 Degrees  82.1 to 83.7      91 to 97 Degrees  87 Degrees West
                                      West              Degrees West      West              

  *Source Software* APS software      APS software      APS software      APS software      APS software

  **Parameters for  **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface
  Product Input 3 - Height**          Height**          Height**          Height**          Height**
  Sea Surface                                                                               
  Height**                                                                                  

  *Data Type*       Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour

  *Measurement      meters            meters            meters            meters            meters
  Units*                                                                                    

  *Scaling Range*   -0.5 to 0.5       -0.5 to 0.5       -0.5 to 0.5       -0.5 to 0.5       -0.5 to 0.5

  *Source Software* NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model

  **Parameters for  **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface     **Sea Surface
  Product Input 4 - Salinity**        Salinity**        Salinity**        Salinity**        Salinity**
  Sea Surface                                                                               
  Salinity**                                                                                

  *Data Type*       Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour    Vector Contour

  *Measurement      PPT               PPT               PPT               PPT               PPT
  Units*                                                                                    

  *Scaling Range*   34 to 36          34 to 36          34 to 36          34 to 36          34 to 36

  *Source Software* NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model

  **Parameters for  **Circulation**   **Circulation**   **Circulation**   **Circulation**   **Circulation**
  Product Input 5 -                                                                         
  Sea Surface                                                                               
  Circulation**                                                                             

  *Data Type*       Vector Direction  Vector Direction  Vector Direction  Vector Direction  Vector Direction

  *Measurement      Degrees           Degrees           Degrees           Degrees           Degrees
  Units*                                                                                    

  *Scaling Range*   0 to 360          0 to 360          0 to 360          0 to 360          0 to 360

  *Source Software* NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model        NCOM Model
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

## Analysis of Data Volume Requirements for Generating NRL MODIS Products Resident to the NRT HABSOS

MODIS ocean data products resident to HABSOS require a considerable
amount of hard drive disk space, which has been a complaint of some
potential end-users as an impediment to operational usage. Consequently,
one facet of the V&V analysis regarded measurement and extrapolated
estimation of the data volume requirements needed for 30 sequential day
postings of MODIS data product postings to the NRT HABSOS. We
approximate that at least 106 Gigabytes are needed to accommodate a
30-day period, as summarized in Table 6. If MODIS were to be used by the
HAB Bulletin production team as they do with SeaWiFS, the data volume
needed would be at least double as the HAB Bulletin calculates
chlorophyll anomalies using SeaWiFS data over a 60-day period. This
amount will increase if additional MODIS data products are added to the
NRT HABSOS.

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc134533318 .anchor}Table 6 - Data Volume
Requirements for NRL MODIS Products Posted in NRT HABSOS

  ------------------------------------------ ------------- --------------
  **Data Input to APS Software for                         
  Generating MODIS Ocean Data Products**                   

  **Input Processing Step**                  **Data Volume **Data Volume
                                             / Day (Gb)**  / 30 Days
                                                           (Gb)**

  Ingest of 1 KM HDF Files                   1.17036       35.1108

  BZIP of HDF Files (eliminates HDF upon     0.45889       13.7667
  BZIP completion)                                         

  Ingest of 1 KM HDF Files (developed from   2.11938       63.5814
  BZIP output)                                             

  **Total of All Input Steps**               2.57827       77.3481

                                                            

  **APS MODIS Ocean Data Product Output**                  

  **Output Processing Step**                 **Data Volume **Data Volume
                                             / Day (Gb)**  / 30 Days
                                                           (Gb)**

  HDF Generation (includes other MODIS       0.87545       26.2635
  products not currently used by HABSOS)                   

  JPG image maps of L3 and L4 Products       0.06396       1.9188

  Thumbnails of L3 and L4 Products           0.00285       0.0855

  **Total of All Output Steps**              0.94226       28.2678

                                                            

  **Total Data Volume of All APS Input and   **3.52053**   **105.6159**
  Output Steps Needed for HABSOS MODIS                     
  Products**                                               
  ------------------------------------------ ------------- --------------

# Conclusions and Recommendations

The NRT HABSOS is a prototypical operational system for coastal and
public health managers, which includes a variety of MODIS ocean data
products and NCOM modeling products from NRL. The V&V analysis of the
NRT HABSOS led to the following conclusions:

1.  The inclusion of NRL MODIS ocean color and SST data products has
    enhanced the potential of NRT HABSOS ArcIMS for HAB event analyses,
    though more work is needed for the system to be used for
    comprehensive HAB detection, monitoring, forecasting and management
    decision making. While the current system is impressive, additional
    effort is needed to further develop and refine the way remote
    sensing products are integrated into the system.

2.  The NRT HABSOS also does not presently include NRT in situ data on
    *Karenia brevis* cell count concentration. These data are posted on
    the HABMapS ArcIMS and will eventually migrate to HABSOS (NOAA
    2005). These in situ data are crucial for end-users to evaluate the
    potential of MODIS data products for HAB applications.

3.  The current NRT HABSOS enables the geospatial visualization of MODIS
    ocean data products, though it does not have a direct means for
    end-users to download data in GIS format. This limits the use of
    such data in HABSOS external mapping and modeling applications.

4.  The MODIS data products for the NRT HABSOS are RGB images without
    direct traceability to the one channel thematic imagery used to
    derive the RGB color composite imagery. This is done because the
    ArcIMS software version does not allow pseudo color imagery to be
    used. The latter is what modelers commonly use to integrate raster
    thematic map-based measurements or predictions. In terms of an IMS,
    the RGB imagery is effective as a display, though the product cannot
    be used as an input to multivariate HAB modeling applications. A
    solution could be constructed for HAB modelers so that interested
    end-users could download pseudo color thematic output for a given
    MODIS ocean data product displayed on the NRT HABSOS IMS as an RGB.
    The downloading capability would help the HAB modeling community to
    better assess the potential of MODIS ocean data products.

5.  The present capability does not allow end-users to exploit the NRL
    MODIS data products over a sufficient time frame that permits
    anomaly detection of chlorophyll-a. The still frame MODIS data
    products are only a snap shot, showing the most up-to-date latest
    pixel composite, cloud-free estimation of a given parameter. The
    animation product shows how latest pixel composite (LPC) chlorophyll
    levels change over a multi-day time span, though this time span is
    much shorter than what is used by NOAA with SeaWiFS data to identify
    chlorophyll anomalies for HAB Bulletins. NOAA National Centers for
    Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) uses a 60-day average of SeaWiFS data
    to compute chlorophyll anomalies needed for generating HAB Bulletins
    (Stumpf et al. 2003).

6.  The description of resident data and metadata for the NRT HABSOS
    ArcIMS is incomplete with respect to the NRL MODIS ocean data
    products. More information is needed to aid end-users in assessing
    and understanding potential and actual utility of the MODIS data
    products. The metadata does not include information on atmospheric
    correction algorithms and quality control measures taken to mask out
    clouds and sun glint. Atmospheric correction techniques can alter
    the accuracy of ocean data products either positively or negatively.
    HABSOS does not presently include metadata or other documentation on
    how to optimally use the MODIS ocean data products with respect to
    HAB or any other ocean water quality related applications. On the
    HABSOS Web site, there is no documentation discussing how to use the
    MODIS data products for improved HAB decision making. This may be
    addressed through the use of URL lists of relevant Internet sites.

7.  A review of the map legends for the MODIS data products indicated
    some corrections are needed. For example, the map legend for adg412
    is indicated as adg443. The low end of scaling for the adp443
    product is one decimal place off. The map legend for the turbidity
    scales read from high to low instead of low to high (as is the case
    with the other NRL absorption products in the NRT HABSOS).

Recommendations for improving current NRL MODIS data product
contributions to the NRT HABSOS include the following:

1.  Data format of MODIS ocean data products should be structured so
    that the inherent data products can be downloaded and integrated
    into GIS-based HAB dispersion models.

2.  HABSOS ArcIMS needs to allow MODIS ocean color data products to be
    downloaded for HABSOS end-users to use to use in their GIS and other
    geospatial modeling and visualization software. MODIS ocean color
    data products resident to HABSOS should be formatted in such a way
    that the actual digital numbers can be queried. Single channel
    GeoTIFF with a look-up table should accommodate this need.

3.  As indicated by NOAA (2005), HABMapS NRT system should be folded
    into the NRT HABSOS ArcIMS to aid end-users in using the MODIS ocean
    color data products. Doing so would enable in-situ data on HAB
    distribution and abundance to be compared, at least visually, to
    MODIS ocean data product displays.

4.  There is a great need to improve the integration of raster and
    vector data within the NRT HABSOS IMS so that one layer can be
    queried with respect to another. There is a need to transform the
    current GIS data visualization capability to one that includes more
    analytical functionality. There is a need to improve HABSOS screen
    display visualization capabilities so that one image data product
    can be swiped across another. HABSOS ArcIMS could benefit from the
    end-user being able to add GIS data layers to the ArcIMS display.

5.  The NRL SS particle transport modeling capability using NCOM should
    be integrated into HABSOS, at least via hyperlink to animated GIFs.
    The merged MODIS chlorophyll / NCOM model results have great
    potential for HAB applications because ocean circulation can greatly
    influence ocean color parameters such as chlorophyll concentration
    (see Arnone et al. 2005 and Blain et al. 2005). Additional
    geospatially enabled animation product development of this type is
    needed for HABSOS end-users to more fully utilize this potential
    within the Internet GIS environment. As with the MODIS still frame
    products, documentation should be provided on how to optimally use
    these multitemporal ocean color/NCOM animation products. In
    particular, it would help to include spatial resolution information
    on the NCOM modeling output used in the MODIS / NCOM fusion
    products.

6.  HABSOS ArcIMS could also be improved by enabling access to data
    external to the NRT ArcIMS on-line data holdings. It may help to
    look back in time at MODIS ocean data products posted prior to the
    currently posted products. A hyperlink to the data archive of MODIS
    ocean data products would be useful. Such an archive could contain
    thumbnails and quick looks of MODIS ocean data products with
    additional links to full resolution data products or other ArcIMS
    compatible data products.

7.  Portions of the SST imagery can be of suspect quality, apparently
    due to clouds or other atmospheric contamination. The current color
    table could be compared to other modeled SST in order to mask out
    anomalously low values.

8.  The NRL MODIS SST product color look-up tables show very low
    contrast for certain times of year for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM)
    region, especially with respect to midsummer. The color tables
    should be adjusted so that the color ramp is spread through the
    predominant range of temperatures evident across the GOM. The SST
    color tables from NRL MODIS data also do not match the SST color
    table from the NRL oceanographic modeling. This disagreement should
    be alleviated using a standard color table.

9.  The metadata for the NRL MODIS Ocean Data Products should be revised
    to better indicate the source of algorithms used to generate each
    product, at least when applicable. For example, the metadata does
    not indicate which specific algorithm is being used to generate
    chlorophyll concentration image products from MODIS data. The
    abstract description indicates that NASA algorithms are being used,
    though this is probably not always the case, based on APS software
    documentation (The NRL uses APS to generate the MODIS Ocean Color
    and SST data products). There is also no information given on the
    metadata regarding the atmospheric correction and preprocessing of
    the MODIS data prior to product derivation. The metadata would also
    benefit from the addition of information on expected accuracy of a
    given MODIS ocean data product, citing representative published
    studies. Also in regards to documentation, the inclusion of MODIS
    QA/QC flag data products may be useful for end-users to gauge how
    effective the MODIS ocean color data products are.

10. Additional V&V needs to be done with participation of state agency
    end-users, such as the State Departments of Marine Resources. The
    V&V analyses discussed here did not involve direct participation of
    NRT HABSOS end-users. After the MODIS data contribution to the NRT
    HABSOS is refined, benchmarking is needed to quantify how much
    better NASA-enhanced HABSOS is, as compared to HABSOS without such
    enhancement. Such benchmarking should be preceded by a research and
    development phase that responds to recommendations given in the V&V
    report. The benchmarking report ideally should include testimonial
    documentation on how HABSOS end-users employed HABSOS resident data
    for HAB decision support, mitigation, and other management
    activities.

The NRT HABSOS may also benefit from inclusion of additional MODIS data
products, based on a review of available literature. Some suggestions
for HABSOS developers to consider include:

1.  The NRT HABSOS could benefit from inclusion of MODIS true color RGB
    color composite imagery for visual comparison to MODIS ocean color
    products. The latter is useful for assessing visual correlation of
    patterns on the MODIS ocean data colors to the actual data used to
    derive those products.

2.  The NRT HABSOS could also benefit from inclusion of MODIS
    Fluorescence products. Hu et al. (2005) found the latter product had
    the potential to detect HABs in water with high concentrations of
    chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM).

3.  Additional NRL products could be generated from MODIS data and
    incorporated into HABSOS. One example is RGB imagery composed of
    MODIS-based detritus (CDOM), and chlorophyll concentration loaded
    into the RGB color guns. Arnone et al. (2004) have employed this RGB
    product for classifying water mass types in the Gulf of Mexico.

4.  Additional gains could be made via effective pan sharpening of MODIS
    ocean color data into 250-meter resolution data sets. NOAA standard
    chlorophyll products from SeaWiFS and comparable products from MODIS
    are generally 1 km resolution, which is good to within 2 km of the
    coastal shoreline according to Stumpf (2001). More effective pan
    sharpening of MODIS ocean data products would better enable
    prototyping of future ocean color satellite systems such as the
    National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and
    the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-R). The
    pan-sharpening needs to be done in a way that retains spectral
    qualities of multispectral data at 1 km yet include the spatial
    information content of higher resolution panchromatic band(s) at
    250-meter resolution. Multiple algorithms could be evaluated to
    determine if such a data fusion approach is feasible for HABSOS
    MODIS data products.

5.  It may also be useful for the NRL to compute, post on HABSOS, and
    compare MODIS c-beam 250 meter to c-beam 1 km turbidity products to
    gauge the differences between these two products. In doing so,
    HABSOS end-users will be able to better evaluate spatial resolution
    differences if there were MODIS 250 meter and 1 km c-beam products
    posted on the NRT HABSOS.

# References

Arnone, R. A., A. R. Parsons, D. S. Ko, B. Casey, S. Ladner, R. H.
Preller, and C. M. Hall. 2005. Physical and bio-optical processes in the
Gulf of Mexico - Linking real-time circulation models and satellite
bio-optical and SST properties. Paper presented at the 8^th^
International Conference for Marine and Coastal Environments, May 17--19
in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Arnone, R., A. Michelle Wood, and R. W. Gould. 2004. The evolution of
optical water mass classification. *Oceanography* 17 (2): 14-15.

Blain, C. A., R. A. Arnone, and R. W. Gould. 2005. High resolution
coastal circulation: Merging models and ocean color data. Paper
presented at the 8^th^ International Conference for Marine and Coastal
Environments, May 17--19 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Culver, M. 2003. Rapid access to information during a harmful algal
bloom event. Presentation, 1st Binational Collaboration Workshop
Proceedings. Presentation available at:
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational/NOAA_Culver.pdf>, (accessed April
27, 2005).

Fisher, W., T. Malone, and J. Giattina. 2003. A pilot project to detect
and forecast harmful algal blooms in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Abstract, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, v 81:373-381.

Friedl, L. A., and C. M. Hall. 2005. Extending the use of NASA research
results for coastal management decision support. On-line article posted
on EOM Web site at:
<http://www.eomonline.com/EOM_Jul05/article.php?Article=feature2>.

Hu, C., F. E. Muller-Karger, C. Taylor, K. L. Carder, C. Kelble, E.
Johns, and C. A. Heil. 2005. Red tide detection and tracing using MODIS
fluorescence data: A regional example in southwest Florida coastal
waters. *Remote Sensing of Environment* 97 (3): 311--21.

Lee, Z., K. L. Carder, and R. A. Arnone. 2002. Deriving inherent optical
properties from water color: A multiband quasi-analytical algorithm for
optically deep waters. *Applied Optics* 41 (27): 5755--72.

Malone, T.C., 2001, Harmful Algal Events, On-line Paper, GOOS Products
and Services Bulletin,
<http://ioc.unesco.org/gpsbulletin/GPS1&2/Vol2article.htm>, (accessed
April 26, 2005).

Malone, T.C., 2004, Ecosystem Dynamics, Harmful Algal Blooms, and
Operational Oceanography, Paper included in IOC UNESCO Ocean Teacher
Digital Library, Downloadable at:
<http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/OceanTeacher2/06_OcDtaMgtProc/06_EarthSysMod/02_ModelEcoProc/02_Biological/EcoDynHAB&OpOcean2.pdf>
(accessed August 22, 2005).

McPherson, T., Beard, R., 2005, NASA-NOAA Collaboration on the Harmful
Algal BloomS Observing System (HABSOS), Presentation, Gulf of Mexico
Program Management Committee Meeting, April 12-13, 2005, 14 p,
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/presentations/mc-habsos/mc-habsos-1.html>,
(accessed May 4, 2005).

Mesick, S., 2004, NOAA Coastal Data Development Center Overview of Data
Management Activities, 2004, Proceedings for Workshop on GIS Tools
Supporting Ecosystem Approaches to Management, Charleston, South
Carolina, Presentation available at:
<http://www.st.nmfs.gov/ecogis/Workshop2004/Documents/Mesick_presentation.pdf>
(accessed August 21, 2005)

NASA, 2004, Evaluation of the Harmful Algal Bloom Mapping System
(HABMapS) and Bulletin, NASA Internal Report, Submitted June 2004, 21
pp., plus appendices.

NOAA CSC, 2005, Action Plan for Harmful Algal Blooms and the Gulf of
Mexico Coastal Ocean Observation System: Results from a Regional
Workshop, NOAA publication NOAA/CSC/20516-PUB.

Pennock, J., R. Greene, W. Fisher, T. Villareal, J. Simons, Q. Dortch,
C. Moncrieff, K. Steidinger, T. Orsi, R. Stumpf, and S. Gallegos. 2004.
HABSOS; An Integrated Case Study for the Gulf of Mexico -- Final report.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Spinrad, R., 2004, Congressional Testimony on Harmful Algal Bloom and
Hypoxia Research Control Act, Given to Fisheries Commission, Wildlife
and Oceans Subcommittee (Resources Committee) of the U.S. House of
Representatives, February 26, 2004. Text available at:
<http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/108/testimony/2004/richardspinrad.pdf>
(accessed August 21, 2005).

Stumpf, R.P., 2001, Applications of satellite ocean color sensors for
monitoring and predicting harmful algae blooms, Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess.
7(5), 1363-1368.

Stumpf, R.P., M.E. Culver, P.A. Tester, M. Tomlinson, G.J. Kirkpatrick,
B.A. Pederson, E. Truby, V. Ransibrahmanakul, and M. Soracco. 2003.
*Monitoring Karenia brevis blooms in the Gulf of Mexico using satellite
ocean color imagery and other data.* Harmful Algae, 2:147-160.

Additional non-cited references regarding HABSOS are included in
Appendix H.

####### Summary of NASA REASoN Project with ACT Corporation and NRL

WHO: Applied Coherent Technology (ACT) Corporation -- Erick Malaret
(Principal Investigator); subcontract to Naval Research Laboratory --
Robert Arnone (Lead)

WHAT: *Sensor to User -- Applying NASA/EOS Data to Coastal Zone
Management Applications Developed from Integrated Analyses*

HOW MUCH: \$2,020,000

DELIVERABLES:

-   Generate new products and improve existing products from Earth
    science satellites and models to support coastal-ocean resource
    managers

-   Integrate model and satellite output to address coastal management
    issues identified from NOAA and other partners

-   Enable real-time ocean properties to be easily assembled and
    distributed into coastal products through Web technology

-   Cooperate with NOAA National Ocean Service and NOAA National
    Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service to ensure
    useful product creation and integration with current NOAA DSTs and
    priority needs of the coastal resource management community

-   Partner with the NASA Earth Science Information Partner Federation
    and Strategic Evolution of Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) Data
    Systems (SEEDS) Working Groups to support and address issues facing
    the Standards and Interface Working Group and the Technology
    Infusion Working Group; and

-   Link the ESE Application Division's strategy with the SEEDS process

[REFERENCES]{.underline}: 1) *Coastal Management Element Plan: 2004 --
2008*. NASA Earth Science Enterprise, National Applications Program,
Earth Science for Coastal Management. 2) Technical Evaluation of the
Proposed Budget for the Applied Coherent Technology Corporation proposal
titled *Sensor to User -- Applying NASA/EOS Data to Coastal Zone
Management Applications Developed from Integrated Analyses* received
January 30, 2004.

####### Glossaries

This section provides glossaries for V&V terminology, Ocean color
terminology, and HAB terminology.

########  V&V Terminology Regarding Decision Support Tool Enhancement^1^

Benchmark -- The process of determining the improvement in performance
of a decision support tool (DST) after enhancement compared to an
earlier state. Benchmarking can also be done to compare performance of
the enhanced DST to an accepted standard level of performance.
Benchmarking aims to measure and document benefits and values due to DST
enhancement.

Evaluation -- The process of assessing a DST regarding potential for
enhancement with NASA science, data, and modeling capabilities using
system engineering principles and practices.

Validation - The process of determining the degree to which a geospatial
information product enhancement is accurate and useful for a given DST
application.

Verification - The process of determining that a geospatial information
product is accurate with respect to product specifications. Verification
provides quality assurance that a product is as claimed. Note that
verification and validation are often employed in tandem (referred to as
V&V) as techniques in order to characterize science data, models, and
other data products.

^1^Sources of Information for V&V Definitions -
<http://science.hq.nasa.gov/earth-sun/applications/cross.html>,
<http://science.hq.nasa.gov/earth-sun/applications/index.html#Approach>,
<http://research.hq.nasa.gov/code_y/nra/current/NNH04ZYO010C/AppendixA.html>,
and <http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/wind/valid/tutorial/glossary.html>.

########  Ocean Color Terminology

Absorption -- The ability of matter to absorb light energy impingent on
it. This light energy is converted into heat, or in the case of plant
matter, it is converted into photosynthetic energy or secondary energy
processes such as fluorescence emission. The net light lost from an
incident beam of light is referred to by the absorption coefficient or
absorbance. The amount of light absorbed by materials in the water
depends on the materials themselves and the wavelength of light incident
upon them. By varying the wavelength of light, one can deduce
information relating to specific material in the water. This is a basic
principle behind spectrophotometry (Source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Aerosols - Aerosols are liquid or solid particles of between 10¯ ³ and
10 microns. They have various origins and are of different types. The
major classes of aerosol are as follows: stratospheric aerosols of
sulfuric acid, mainly from volcanic eruptions, tropospheric marine
aerosols from the oceans, desertic aerosols of dust from desert or
semi-desert areas, anthropogenic aerosols from urban pollution or fires,
and aerosols from chemical transformations.  (Source: POLDER and Ocean
Color,
<http://ceos.cnes.fr:8100/cdrom-00b/ceos1/satellit/polder/science.htm>)

Apparent Optical Property -- Water properties that depend on ambient
light and inherent optical properties. They depend on the angle of the
sun, whether it is day or night, and the amount of cloud cover. Apparent
optical properties include the irradiance attenuation coefficient, the
irradiance reflection coefficient, and the Secchi disk depth (Source:
Wet Labs Ocean Color Glossary, <http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Atmospheric Correction -- Refers to the digital processing of
electro-optical radiance imagery to eliminate or reduce spectral
influences from atmospheric constituents such as aerosols and water
vapor. Regards correction made to remotely sensed radiance imagery to
account for effects related to the intervening atmosphere between the
earth\'s surface and the satellite sensor (Source: Based on American
Meteorology Glossary of Meteorology at:
<http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary>).

Attenuation - A term that describes the loss of electromagnetic energy
(solar radiation) as it passes through the atmosphere owing to
absorption and scattering by atmospheric particles and molecules
(Source: MERIS Ocean Color Glossary,
<http://envisat.esa.int/dataproducts/meris/CNTR5-2-6.htm#eph.meris.gloss.index.ocean>).

Backward Scattering (Backscattering) - Light scattered from particles
scattered at angles greater than 90 degrees with respect to the incident
direction of the source as it impinges on particles in the water.
Backscattering is particularly useful in applications that tie remote
ocean color images from satellites and planes to in-water optical
processes (Source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Beam Attenuation -- A decrease in light energy from a collimated beam
that is passing through a water sample with a specific path length. It
is an inherent optical property (Source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Beam Attenuation Coefficient (c) - The attenuation experienced by a
hypothetical perfectly collimated beam of light. Represented as c, it is
equal to a (absorption coefficient) + b (scattering coefficient) Source:
Hydro-Optics, Biology and Instrumentation Laboratories Glossary,
<http://www.hobilabs.com/cms/index.cfm/37/1288/1301/>).

Blended -- Describes satellite ocean data products which were derived
from multiple sensors. For example, NRL MODIS data products can involve
the blending of results from MODIS Aqua and Terra satellite data.

Color Dissolved Organic Matter (Gelbstoff) - Fluorescence attributed to
colored dissolved organic matter in the ocean. In coastal areas this can
provide an indication of how much organic carbon material is getting
washed into the ocean. In the ocean, it provides an indication of carbon
cycling into the oceanic pool from decaying phytoplankton and other life
forms (Source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Chlorophyll-A Concentration -- Chemical compounds occurring in plants
that enable radiant energy to be converted to chemical energy in the
process of photosynthesis; there are several types (e.g., denoted as chl
*a*, *b*, etc.) with chl *a* typically the most common form present. 
(Source: Optical Oceanography Glossary,
<http://swhite.me.washington.edu/faculty/McCormick/glossary.htm>).

Clarity - A qualitative measurement of the ability of water to transmit
light. Clarity can be assessed using transmissometers and turbidity
sensors. In terms of water observation, clarity can be considered
synonymous with visibility (Primary source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Detritus - The particulate decomposition or disintegration products of
plankton, including dead cells, cell fragments, fecal pellets, shells,
and skeletons, and sometimes mineral particles in coastal waters
(Source: Optical Oceanography Glossary,
<http://swhite.me.washington.edu/faculty/McCormick/glossary.htm>).

Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient (*K~d~*) - More precisely known as the
Irradiance Attenuation Coefficient, this quantifies the attenuation of
plane irradiance under solar illumination. This is often referred to as
an apparent optical property because it depends not only on the water
properties but also on the sun angle, sky conditions, depth, and
shadowing by the measurement platform or the measuring instrument
itself. However it has been shown that at great enough depths, *K~d~*
reaches an asymptotic value that depends only on the properties of the
water. This asymptotic *K~d~* can be considered an inherent optical
property (Source: Hydro-Optics, Biology and Instrumentation Laboratories
Glossary, <http://www.hobilabs.com/cms/index.cfm/37/1288/1301/>).

Inherent Optical Property - Water properties that depend only on the
content of the water, regardless of light conditions. Inherent optical
properties include absorption, attenuation, scattering, fluorescence,
and volume scattering function (Primary source: Wet Labs Glossary,
<http://www.wetlabs.com/glossary.htm>).

Latency -- Delay time between when a device requests access to a network
and the time it is granted permission to transmit. Can also be a delay
between the time a device receives a frame and the time that frame is
forwarded out the destination port. Latency is an integrated technology
term used to describe the time needed to transfer a digital data product
across a network from the initial producer to the eventual end user. In
terms of NRT satellite data products, this can be considered the lag
time between data collection, data download, data processing into a
preliminary product, data processing into final product, and data
transfer of the final product (Primary source: Cisco Systems Glossary,
<http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ita/index.htm>).

Sea Surface Temperature - The temperature of the layer of seawater
(approximately 0.5 m deep) nearest the atmosphere (Source: NASA Earth
Observatory,
[http://eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Library/glossary.php3?xref=ocean%20color](http://eobglossary.gsfc.nasa.gov/Library/glossary.php3?xref=ocean color)).

Sea Surface Salinity -- a measure of the quantity of dissolved salts in
surface ocean water; defined in terms of the conductivity of a defined
salt solution; has no units but is nearly equal to the weight in grams
of dissolved salts per kilogram of seawater. Also regards the natural
concentration of salts in surface water. This is influenced by the
geologic formations underlying the area. Salinity is lower in areas
underlain by igneous formations and higher in areas underlain by
sedimentary formations. Higher salt concentrations are also more likely
in arid regions where water evaporates leaving the same amount of salt
in less water and thus increasing the salinity (Source: Ocean World
Glossary at: <http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/glossary.htm>).

Sun Glint -- A pattern seen in visible imagery when the sun's rays are
reflected off a highly reflective surface such as water or sand. Sun
glint patterns vary in shape, size, and brightness depending on the type
of satellite, solar sub point, sea state, and low level distribution of
aerosols and moisture. Can also be thought of as the specular reflection
of solar flux on an ocean or sufficiently large water body (Primary
source: State University of New York at Albany, Course Glossary for
Meteorological Remote Sensing,
<http://www.atmos.albany.edu/deas/atmclasses/atm335/glossary.pdf>).

Total Suspended Sediment - The sediment that, at any given time, is
maintained in suspension by the upward components of turbulent currents
or that exists in suspension as a colloid (Source: Glossary for the U.S.
Geological Survey\'s National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA)
Program\'s Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River basin study,
<http://ga.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/glossary.html>).

True Color Composite Image -- Refers to a color image in which the bands
assigned to the red, blue and green color guns also correspond to
reflected energy from the visible red, green, and blue portions of the
electromagnetic spectrum, respectively. The end result is a color
composite image that is similar in appearance to what the human eye can
see (Source: Based on Natural Environment Research Center Earth
Observation Data Center remote sensing glossary at:
<http://www.neodc.rl.ac.uk/tutorials/glossary/glossary.htm>).

Visibility -- In terms of underwater diving, visibility is the distance
a diver can see underwater that is typically measured in feet or meters.
Underwater visibility products can be produced from MODIS data and may
be useful for HAB mapping applications (Source: Definition adapted from
Underwater Australia Diving Glossary at:
<http://www.underwater.com.au/article.php/id/1546/>).

Water Mass - a body of water with a common formation history, such as
convection from surface cooling that originates in a particular region
of the ocean. Water masses can be identified by their temperature,
salinity, and other properties such as nutrients or oxygen content. They
have exclusive occupation of an oceanic region only in their formation
region; elsewhere they share the ocean with other water masses with
which they mix. Just as air masses in the atmosphere, water masses are
physical entities with a measurable volume (Source: American Meteorology
Glossary of Meteorology at:
<http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary>).

########  HAB Forecasting Terminology

Detection -- the process of determining and recording the presence of a
certain condition, pattern, process, or phenomenon (e.g., HAB patch)
within an observed area of interest. Change detection regards the
recognition of change in an observed environmental parameter of interest
within an observed area of interest. Such change can be referred to as
an anomaly, when compared to normal measurements. Detection is a
precursor to monitoring.

Early Warning -- a prediction of dangerous conditions that a HAB event
may occur in relation to coastal resources and human populations,
warranting management actions to manage or mitigate impacts of impending
event.

Forecast -- a multifaceted prediction of where, when, and how much of a
meteorological and/or oceanographic event may occur. For example, a
weather forecast can include the estimated amount of precipitation as
well as wind speed and direction.

Prediction -- although similar to forecasting, but more specific in the
sense that forecasts can encompass multiple predictions. Frequently
based on modeling and measurement, prediction describes where and when a
future event will occur. Numerical predictions tend to include a
quantified probability that a future event will occur.

Monitoring -- the process of observing and measuring physical properties
of targeted environmental patterns, processes or phenomenon over
multiple time intervals.

Modeling -- an investigative suite of techniques that uses a
mathematical or physical representation of a physical pattern, process,
system or theory that accounts for all or some of its known properties.
In terms of system engineering, models are often used to test the
effects of changes of system components on the overall performance of
the system. This definition was modified from from the NASA JPL physical
oceanography DAAC web site: <http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov/glossary/>.

Simulation - the deployment or application of a model.

#######  Acronyms

ACT -- Applied Coherent Technology Corporation

APS -- Automated Processing SystemAVHRR -- Advanced Very High Resolution
Radiometer

ArcIMS -- a commercial, scalable Internet map server developed by ESRI,
Inc.

CDOM -- Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter

CSC -- Coastal Services Center (NOAA)

DAAC -- Distributed Active Archive Center

DMR -- Department of Marine Resources (e.g., State of Mississippi DMR)

DST -- decision support tool

EPA -- Environmental Protection Agency

ESA -- European Space Agency

ESE -- Earth Science Enterprise

ESRI -- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Incorporated

GIF -- Graphics Interchange Format

GCOOS -- Gulf Coast Ocean Observation System

GIS -- geographic information system

GOM -- Gulf of Mexico region

GUI -- graphical user interface

HAB -- Harmful Algal Bloom

HABSOS -- Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (NOAA)

HABMapS -- Harmful Algal Bloom Mapping System (NOAA)

IMS -- Internet map server

JPL -- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA)

LPC -- latest pixel composite

METAR -- Meteorological Aerodrome Report

MODIS -- Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (NASA)

NCDDC -- National Coastal Data Development Center (NOAA)

NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NOAA)

NCOM -- Navy Coastal Ocean Model

NESDIS -- National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information
Service (NOAA)

NOAA -- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of
Commerce)

NODC -- National Oceanographic Data Center

NRL -- Naval Research Laboratory

NRT -- near real time

QuikSCAT - Quick Scatterometer (NASA) satellite containing SeaWinds
sensor

QAA -- Quasi-Analytical Algorithm

REASoN -- Research, Education, and Applications Solutions Network (NASA)

RGB -- Red, Green, Blue

SEEDS -- Science Enterprise Data Systems

SSE -- sea surface elevation -- a.k.a. sea surface height (SSH)

SSS -- sea surface salinity

SST -- sea surface temperature

SeaWiFS -- Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (ORBIMAGE)

V&V -- verification and validation

####### List of All GIS Data Layers Resident to NRT HABSOS IMS

  ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------------
  **Meteorologic    
  Data**            

  **Product \#**    **Product Description**

  1                 Winds (from buoys)

  2                 Winds (from QuikSCAT)

  3                 NWS Air Temperature (24hr forecast)

  4                 NWS Air Temperature (48 hr forecast)

  5                 NWS Air Temperature (72 hr forecast)

  6                 NWS Percent Precipitation (24 hr forecast)

  7                 NWS Percent Precipitation (48 hr forecast)

  8                 NWS Percent Precipitation (72 hr forecast)

  9                 NWS Precipitation Amounts (24 hr forecast)

  10                NWS Precipitation Amounts (48 hour forecast)

  11                NWS Precipitation Amounts (72 hr forecast)

                    

  **Oceanographic   
  Data**            

  **Product \#**    **Product Description**

  1                 Currents (from buoys)

  2                 NRL Surface Currents (nowcast)

  3                 NRL Surface Currents Speeds (nowcast)

  4                 NRL Surface Currents (24 hour forecast)

  5                 NRL Surface Currents Speeds (24 hour forecast)

  6                 NRL Surface Currents (48 hour forecast)

  7                 NRL Surface Currents Speeds (48 hour forecast)

  8                 NRL Surface Currents (72 hour forecast)

  9                 NRL Surface Currents Speeds (72 hour forecast)

  10                NRL Sea Surface Heights (nowcast)

  11                NRL Sea Surface Heights (24 hour forecast)

  12                NRL Sea Surface Heights (48 hour forecast)

  13                NRL Sea Surface Heights (72 hour forecast)

  14                NRL Sea Surface Salinities (nowcast)

  15                NRL Sea Surface Salinities (24 hour forecast)

  16                NRL Sea Surface Salinities (48 hour forecast)

  17                NRL Sea Surface Salinities (72 hour forecast)

  18                NAVO Sea Surface Temperatures

  19                NRL Sea Surface Temperatures (nowcast)

  20                NRL Sea Surface Temperatures (24 hour forecast)

  21                NRL Sea Surface Temperatures (48 hour forecast)

  22                NRL Sea Surface Temperatures (72 hour forecast)

                    

  **MODIS Ocean     
  Data Products**   

  **Product \#**    **Product Description**

  1                 NRL/NASA/ESA Turbidity (250m resolution)

  2                 NRL/NASA/ESA Total absorption at 443nm

  3                 NRL/NASA/ESA Absorption from color dissolved organic matter
                    at 412nm

  4                 NRL/NASA/ESA Absorption from phytoplankton at 443nm

  5                 NRL/NASA/ESA Backward scattering at 555nm

  6                 NRL/NASA/ESA Chlorophyll

  7                 NRL/NASA/ESA Latency (day)

  8                 NRL/NASA/ESA Latency (night)

  9                 NRL/NASA/ESA Sea Surface Temperatures (day)

  10                NRL/NASA/ESA Sea Surface Temperatures (night)

                    

  **GIS Basemap     
  Data**            

  **Product \#**    **Product Description**

  1                 US River Gages

  2                 US METAR Stations

  3                 Cities

  4                 Rivers (generalized)

  5                 US Shellfish Areas

  6                 US County Boundaries

  7                 States

  8                 Other Land Masses
  ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------------

#######  List of NRL Ocean Data Products from MODIS and SeaWiFS Data

**Level 3 (daily and composites)**

**MODIS (Terra and Aqua)**

RRS -- 412,443,488,531,551,667,678,

K532

Chlorophyll (MODIS, Carder, OC3m)

absorption (total, l) (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

adg 412 (Carder, QAA)

aphi443 (Carder, QAA)

adg 443 (Carder, QAA)

bb412,443,488,531,551 (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

c531 (Carder, QAA, Arnone)

True Color

SST (SST2 and SST4)

Horizontal Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Vertical Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Cloud Albedo

Flags

250M -- True Color for MS Bight (only)

c670 (G&A)

**SeaWiFS**

RRS -- 412, 443,490,510,555,670

K532,

Chlorophyll (OC4, Carder)

absorption (total, l) (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

aphi443 (Carder, QAA, Gould, Stumpf)

adg412 (Carder, QAA, Stumpf)

adg443 (Carder, QAA)

ad412 (Gould)

acdom (Gould)

bb555 (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

c555 (Carder, Arnone, QAA)

c670 (Carder)

Horizontal Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Vertical Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Particulate Organic matter (Gould)

Particulate Inorganic Matter (Gould)

Total Sus Sed (Gould)

Water Mass (Gould)

Cloud Albedo

L2 Flags

True Color

**Level 4 (Binning, Latest Pixel Composite)**

**MODIS (Terra and Aqua)**

K532

Chl (OC3M)

absorption (total, 443) (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

adg 443, (QAA)

aphi443 (Carder, QAA)

adg 412 (Carder)

bb551 (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

Horizontal Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Vertical Vis (QAA, Arnone)

SST (SST2)

Latency

Blended

Chlorophyll OC3m, OC4

atotal 443 (QAA)

adg (QAA)

bb555 (QAA)

aphi (QAA)

sst day (SST2)

sst night (SST2)

**SeaWiFS**

K532,

Chlorophyll (OC4)

absorption (total, 443) (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

aphi443 (Carder, QAA)

adg412 (Carder, QAA)

bb555 (Arnone, Carder, QAA)

Horizontal Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Vertical Vis (QAA, Arnone)

Latency

####### List of HABSOS Project Partners with Hyperlinked URLs

Source: HABSOS Web Site

  ------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Environmental    
  Protection Agency  
  (EPA)**            

  **1**              [[Gulf of Mexico Program Office (GMPO)]{.underline}](http://www.epa.gov/gmpo)

  **2**              [[National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory-Gulf Ecology
                     Division (NHEERL)]{.underline}](http://www.epa.gov/nheerl/)

  **National Oceanic 
  and Atmospheric    
  Administration     
  (NOAA)**           

  **3**              [[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
                     (NESDIS)]{.underline}](http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/)

  **4**              [[NESDIS CoastWatch - GOM Node]{.underline}](http://www.mslabs.noaa.gov/cwatch/)

  **5**              [[National Oceanographic Data Center
                     (NODC)]{.underline}](http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/)

  **6**              [[National Coastal Data Development Center
                     (NCDDC)]{.underline}](http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/)

  **7**              [[National Ocean Service (NOS)]{.underline}](http://www.nos.noaa.gov/)

  **8**              [[NOS Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment
                     (CCMA)]{.underline}](http://ccmaserver.nos.noaa.gov/)

  **9**              [[Coastal Services Center (CSC)]{.underline}](http://www.csc.noaa.gov/)

  **United States    
  Navy**             

  **10**             [[Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command
                     (CNMOC)]{.underline}](http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/)

  **11**             [[U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office
                     (NAVOCEANO)]{.underline}](http://www.navo.navy.mil/)

  **12**             [[Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)]{.underline}](http://www.nrlssc.navy.mil/)

  **Additional       
  Federal Agency     
  Partners**         

  **13**             [[NASA Applied Sciences Directorate
                     (NASA)]{.underline}](http://www.esad.ssc.nasa.gov/)

  **14**             [[U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) - Office of Regulatory Affairs, SE
                     Region]{.underline}](http://www.fda.gov/ora/)

  **15**             [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Waterways Experiment
                     Station]{.underline}](http://www.wes.army.mil/)

  **National         
  Organizations**    

  **16**             [[National Office for Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observations
                     (IOOS)]{.underline}](http://www.ocean.us.net/)

  **17**             [[National Association of Marine Laboratories
                     (NAML)]{.underline}](http://www.mbl.edu/labs/NAML/)

  **Non-Government   
  Organizations**    

  **18**             [[Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal
                     Research]{.underline}](http://inlet.geol.sc.edu/)

  **19**             [[University of Colorado, Colorado Center for Atmospheric Research
                     (CCAR)]{.underline}](http://www-ccar.colorado.edu/research/gom/html/gom_nrt.html)

  **State of         
  Florida**          

  **20**             [[Florida Marine Research Institute
                     (FMRI)]{.underline}](http://www.floridamarine.org/)

  **21**             [[Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
                     (FDACS)]{.underline}](http://doacs.state.fl.us/)

  **State of         
  Alabama**          

  **22**             [[Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL)]{.underline}](http://www.disl.org/)

  **23**             [[Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
                     (ADCNR)]{.underline}](http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/)

  **24**             [[Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)]{.underline}](http://www.adph.org/)

  **State of         
  Mississippi**      

  **25**             [[Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
                     (DMR)]{.underline}](http://www.dmr.state.ms.us/)

  **26**             [[Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
                     (MDEQ)]{.underline}](http://www.deq.state.ms.us/newweb/homepages.nsf/Pages/MDEQ)

  **27**             [[USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
                     (GCRL)]{.underline}](http://www.coms.usm.edu/gindex.htm)

  **State of         
  Louisiana**        

  **28**             [[Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
                     (LDEQ)]{.underline}](http://www.deq.state.la.us/)

  **29**             [[Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
                     (LUMCON)]{.underline}](http://www.lumcon.edu/)

  **30**             [[Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
                     (LDHH)]{.underline}](http://oph.dhh.state.la.us/)

  **State of Texas** 

  **31**             [[University of Texas Marine Science Institute
                     (UTMSI)]{.underline}](http://wwwutmsi.zo.utexas.edu/)

  **32**             [[Texas Department of Health (TDH)]{.underline}](http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/)

  **33**             [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
                     (TPWD)]{.underline}](http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/)

  **Industry**       

  **34**             [[Marathon Oil Company, Climatology and Simulation of Eddies Project
                     (CASE)]{.underline}](http://www-ccar.colorado.edu/research/gom/html/gom_nrt.html)

  **35**             [[Planning Systems Incorporated (PSI)]{.underline}](http://www.plansys.com/)

  **36**             [[Neptune Sciences Inc. (NSI)]{.underline}](http://www.neptunesci.com/)

  **37**             [[Anteon Corporation]{.underline}](http://www.anteon.com/index.htm)

  **38**             [[Veridian]{.underline}](http://www.veridian.com/)
  ------------------ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

####### List of NASA MODIS Ocean Data Products Generated for Global and Regional Earth Science Research

  -------------- ---------------- ------------------- -----------------------------------------
  **Parameter    **Product-ID**   **Parameter Name**  **Description**
  \#**                                                

  1              MOD18            nLw_412             normalized water-leaving radiance (412
                                                      nm)

  2              MOD18            nLw_443             normalized water-leaving radiance (443
                                                      nm)

  3              MOD18            nLw_488             normalized water-leaving radiance (488
                                                      nm)

  4              MOD18            nLw_531             normalized water-leaving radiance (531
                                                      nm)

  5              MOD18            nLw_551             normalized water-leaving radiance (551
                                                      nm)

  6              MOD18            nLw_667             normalized water-leaving radiance (667
                                                      nm)

  7              MOD18            nLw_678             normalized water-leaving radiance (678
                                                      nm)

  8              MOD37            Tau_865             aerosol optical thickness (865 nm)

  9              MOD37            Eps_78              epsilon of aerosol correction (765 & 865
                                                      nm)

  10             MOD37            aer_model1          aerosol model identification number 1

  11             MOD37            aer_model2          aerosol model identification number 2

  12             MOD39            eps_clr_water       epsilon of clear water aerosol correction
                                                      (531 & 667 nm)

  13             MOD19            CZCS_pigment        chlorophyll-a + phaeopigment
                                                      (fluorometric, empirical)

  14             MOD19            chlor_MODIS         chlorophyll-a concentration (HPLC,
                                                      empirical)

  15             MOD19            pigment_c1_total    total pigment concentration (HPLC,
                                                      empirical)

  16             MOD20            chlor_fluor_ht      chlorophyll fluorescence line height

  17             MOD20            chlor_fluor_base    chlorophyll fluorescence baseline

  18             MOD20            chlor_fluor_effic   chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency

  19             MOD23            susp_solids_conc    total suspended matter concentration in
                                                      ocean

  20             MOD25            cocco_pigmnt_conc   pigment concentration in coccolithophore
                                                      blooms

  21             MOD25            cocco_conc_detach   detached coccolithophore concentration

  22             MOD25            calcite_conc        calcite concentration

  23             MOD26            K_490               diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm

  24             MOD31            phycoeryth_conc     phycoerythrobilin concentration

  25             MOD31            phycou_conc         phycourobilin concentration

  26             MOD21            chlor_a_2           chlorophyll-a concentration (SeaWiFS
                                                      analog - OC3M)

  27             MOD21            chlor_a_3           chlorophyll-a concentration
                                                      (semianalytic)

  28             MOD22            ipar                instantaneous photosynthetically
                                                      available radiation

  29             MOD22            arp                 instantaneous absorbed radiation by
                                                      phytoplankton for fluorescence

  30             MOD24            absorp_coef_gelb    gelbstoff absorption coefficient at 400
                                                      nm

  31             MOD36            chlor_absorb        phytoplankton absorption coefficient at
                                                      675 nm

  32             MOD36            tot_absorb_412      total absorption coefficient (412 nm)

  33             MOD36            tot_absorb_443      total absorption coefficient (443 nm)

  34             MOD36            tot_absorb_488      total absorption coefficient (488 nm)

  35             MOD36            tot_absorb_531      total absorption coefficient (531 nm)

  36             MOD36            tot_absorb_551      total absorption coefficient (551 nm)

  D1             MOD28            sst                 sea surface temperature (daytime) (11
                                                      micron)

  D2             MOD28            sst4                sea surface temperature (daytime) (4
                                                      micron)

  N1             MOD28            sst                 sea surface temperature (nighttime) (11
                                                      micron)

  N2             MOD28            sst4                sea surface temperature (nighttime) (4
                                                      micron)

  **QC                                                
  parameters**                                        

  41, D1                          bright20            channel 20 brightness temperature
                                                      (daytime)

  42, D2                          bright22            channel 22 brightness temperature
                                                      (daytime)

  43, D3                          bright23            channel 23 brightness temperature
                                                      (daytime)

  44, D4                          bright31            channel 31 brightness temperature
                                                      (daytime)

  45, D5                          bright32            channel 32 brightness temperature
                                                      (daytime)

  46, D6                          raw20               channel 20 radiance (daytime)

  47, D7                          raw22               channel 22 radiance (daytime)

  48, D8                          raw23               channel 23 radiance (daytime)

  49, D9                          raw31               channel 31 radiance (daytime)

  50, DA                          raw32               channel 32 radiance (daytime)

  51                              U_Wind              U_Wind

  52                              V_Wind              V_Wind

  53                              Pressure            Pressure

  54                              Humidity            Humidity

  55                              Ozone               Ozone

  56                              Latitude            Latitude

  57                              Longitude           Longitude

  58                              SolarZenith         solar zenith angle

  59                              SolarAzimuth        solar azimuth angle

  60                              SatelliteZenith     satellite zenith angle

  61                              SatelliteAzimuth    satellite azimuth angle

  62                              nLw670              normalized water-leaving radiance at 670
                                                      nm

  63                              La765               aerosol radiance at 765 nm

  64                              Ray443              Rayleigh radiance at 443 nm

  65                              Lg865               glint radiance

  66                              Lf865               whitecap radiance

  67                              aer_model1          aerosol model identification number 1

  68                              aer_model2          aerosol model identification number 2

  69, N1                          bright20            channel 20 brightness temperature
                                                      (nighttime)

  70, N2                          bright22            channel 22 brightness temperature
                                                      (nighttime)

  71, N3                          bright23            channel 23 brightness temperature
                                                      (nighttime)

  72, N4                          bright31            channel 31 brightness temperature
                                                      (nighttime)

  73, N5                          bright32            channel 32 brightness temperature
                                                      (nighttime)

  74, N6                          raw20               channel 20 radiance (nighttime)

  75, N7                          raw22               channel 22 radiance (nighttime)

  76, N8                          raw23               channel 23 radiance (nighttime)

  77, N9                          raw31               channel 31 radiance (nighttime)

  78, NA                          raw32               channel 32 radiance (nighttime)
  -------------- ---------------- ------------------- -----------------------------------------

####### Additional Non-Cited References on NOAA HABSOS and Related NOAA HAB Geospatial Decision Support Tools

Allen, J. 2004. Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS),
Abstract, Association of American Geographers Centennial Meeting,
Special Session - GIS in Marine and Coastal Environments I, II, III, and
IV, Philadelphia, PA, March 14-19, 2004,
<http://dusk.geo.orst.edu/aagss04.html>, (accessed April 26, 2005).

Allen, J. 2004. Data integration issues within the Gulf of Mexico,
Abstract, PICES 13 Workshop, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A., October 14-24,
2004,
<http://www.pices.int/publications/book_of_abstracts/PICES_13/PICES_13_Abs_W5.pdf>,
(accessed April 26, 2005)

Benson, B. 2002. Status of Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System Pilot
Project, Presentation, Gulf of Mexico Program Policy Review Board
Meeting Summary, December 12, 2002, New Orleans, LA, abstract at:
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/partner/pdf/prb_meetsumm_dec02.pdf>,
presentation on-line :
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/presentations/presentations12122002.htm>,
(accessed April 26, 2005).

Comar, P., L. Kracker. 2003. SIMS shellfish information management
system. Paper presented at the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation
Conference, November 7, in Portland, OR.
<http://www.chbr.noaa.gov/presentations/5_sims-final-issc2003.pdf>,
(accessed May 4, 2005).

Culver, M. E., M. C. Tomlinson, T. H. Orsi, and R. P. Stumpf. 2002.
Access to harmful algae data in the Gulf of Mexico. Paper presented at
the 10th International Conference on Harmful Algae, October 21--25, in
St. Petersburg, FL.
<http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/rsd/publications/Culver_2002_XHAB_acces.pdf>,
(accessed May 5, 2005).

Culver, M., A. Meredith, R. P. Stumpf, M. P. Soracco, K. Steindinger,
and E. Truby. 2003. Rapid access to information during a harmful algal
bloom event. Abstract presented at the 3^rd^ Biennial Coastal GeoTools
Conference, January 6--9, in Charleston, SC.
<http://www.csc.noaa.gov/geotools/proceedings/pdf_files/os_abs/culverm.pdf>,
(accessed June 23, 2005).

EPA/GMPO. 2005. Draft agenda for GMP management committee meeting for
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Program, April
12-13, in New Orleans, LA.
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational-2003.html>, (accessed April 27,
2005).

EPA/GMPO. 2003. 1st Binational Collaboration Workshop Proceedings, June
10-11, in New Orleans, LA.
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational-2003.html>, (accessed April 27,
2005).

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. *Florida
Aquaculture.* 2003. (28): 1--4.
<http://www.floridaaquaculture.com/publications/Issue_28.pdf>, (accessed
May 4, 2005).

Greene, R. M., T. A. Villareal, R. P. Stumpf, K. A. Steidinger, J.
Simons, J. R. Pennock, T. Orsi, C. A. Moncreiff, K. Hamilton, S. C.
Gallegos, W. S. Fisher, and Q. Dortch. 2002. Harmful Algal BloomS
Observing System (HABSOS) pilot project. Paper presented at the 10th
International Conference on Harmful Algae, October 21--25, in St.
Petersburg, FL.
<http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/rsd/publications/Greene_2002_XHAB_harm.pdf>,
(accessed April 26, 2005).

Greene, R. M., T. A. Villareal, R. P. Stumpf, K. A. Steidinger, J.
Simons, J. R. Pennock, T. Orsi, C. A. Moncreiff, K. Duvall, S. C.
Gallegos, W. S. Fisher, Q. Dortch, J. Allen, K. Mahoney, and D. Dunn.
2003. Status of the harmful algal bloom observing system (HABSOS). Paper
presented at the MTS/IEEE Oceans 2003 Marine Technology and Ocean
Science Conference, September 22--26, in San Diego, CA.

HABSOS Web site participant information. 2005.
[http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/habsos/Contact%20Information/Participants](http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/habsos/Contact Information/Participants),
(accessed April 26, 2005).

EPA/GMPO et al. 2000. Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS) -
workshop report - design and implementation plan for a pilot project for
the coastal component of the U.S. integrated ocean observing system:
Detection and prediction of harmful algal events in the northern Gulf of
Mexico. Paper presented at the Workshop Proceedings, EPA Gulf of Mexico
Program, U.S. Coastal GOOS and NAML, November 27--December 1, in
Pensacola Beach, FL. <http://www.hpl.umces.edu/projects/HABSOS.pdf>,
(accessed May 5, 2005).

Orsi, T, and J. Allen. 2003. HABSOS data management architecture
overview and status. Paper presented at the 1st Binational Collaboration
Workshop Proceedings, June 10, in New Orleans, LA.
<http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational/HABSOS_Orsi.pdf>, (accessed May 4,
2005).

Stinus, J. 2003. Harmful Algal Blooms Observing System (HABSOS),
Presentation, 1st Binational Collaboration Workshop Proceedings,
Presentation available at:
[http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational/NCDDC_Stinus.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/binational-2003.html),
(accessed April 27, 2005)