Hyperspectral reflectance spectra of floating matters derived from HICO observations

Abstract. Using data collected by the Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) on the International Space Station between 2010–2014, hyperspectral reflectance of various floating matters in global oceans and lakes are derived for the spectral range of 400–800 nm. Specifically, the entire HICO archive of 9,411 scenes is first visually inspected to identify suspicious image slicks. Then, a nearest-neighboring atmospheric correction is used to derive surface reflectance of slick pixels. Finally, a spectral unmixing scheme is used to derive the reflectance spectra of floating matters. Analysis of the spectral shapes of these various floating matters (macroalgae, microalgae, organic particles, whitecaps) through the use of a Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) index indicates that they can mostly be distinguished from each other without the need of ancillary information. Such reflectance spectra from the consistent 90-m resolution HICO observations are expected to provide spectral endmembers to differentiate and quantify the various floating matters from existing multi-band satellite sensors and future hyperspectral satellite missions such as NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission and Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) mission.