New IOCCG Reports

Two reports have recently been published in the IOCCG Report Series. IOCCG Report 18 on “Uncertainties in Ocean Colour Remote Sensing” (edited by Frédéric Mélin, EC, JRC) summarizes the state of our knowledge on uncertainties related to ocean colour (OC) products, and identifies ideas and recommendations to achieve significant progress on how uncertainties are quantified and distributed. For a proper use of OC data, it is necessary to be aware of the potential problems and limitations associated with OC remote sensing products, and to identify the sources contributing to their uncertainties, from top-of-atmosphere (TOA) data, to gridded products. This report makes a comprehensive review of these factors. Even though very few OC products are distributed with uncertainty estimates, several approaches have been proposed in recent years to quantify OC product uncertainties, which are reviewed in the report, along with general recommendations for promoting a better treatment of uncertainties, as well as reducing the uncertainties associated with ocean colour products. A digital copy of the report can be downloaded directly from the IOCCG website at: https://ioccg.org/what-we-do/ioccg-publications/ioccg-reports/.

IOCCG Report 19 on “Synergy between Ocean Colour and Biogeochemical/Ecosystem Models” (edited by Stephanie Dutkiewicz, MIT, USA) aims to improve the communication between numerical modellers and the ocean colour community. It provides non-expert accessible information about both ocean colour and biogeochemical and ecosystem modelling. The report discusses methods of model skill assessment using ocean colour products, introduces and highlights case studies of data assimilation involving ocean colour products, and provides examples where models and ocean colour are used synergistically to better understand processes and trends in the ocean’s ecosystem and biogeochemistry. Additionally, the report explores how models can help inform on ocean colour, with the goal of fostering further use of models in ocean colour studies, in helping elucidate uncertainties, and in algorithm development. A digital copy of the report can be downloaded directly from the IOCCG website at: https://ioccg.org/what-we-do/ioccg-publications/ioccg-reports/

Hard copies of both reports can also be requested by completing the IOCCG Report Request Form. A limited number of reports will be printed, so hard copies may not be available at a later date. Please provide detailed mailing information and use an address that will still be valid in a few months’ time..