[M-SD35] Future Missions of Satellite Earth Observation

[MSD35-07] Small satellite ocean color mission

*Joji Ishizaka¹, Mitsuhiro Toratani², Toru Hirawake³, Takafumi Hirata⁴, Hiroshi Kobayashi⁵, Yuji Sakuno⁶, HIROTO HIGA⁷, Atsushi Matsuoka⁹, Shintaro Takao⁸, Koji Suzuki¹⁰ (1.Nagoya University, Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, 2.Faculty of Engineering, Tokai University, 3.National Polar Research Institute, 4.Arctic Research Center, Hokkaido University, 5.Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 6.Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 7.Graduate School of Urban Innovation, Yokohama National University, 8.National Institute for Environmental Studied, 9.University of New Hampshire, 10.Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Environmental Science)

Keywords:small satellite, ocean color, SGLI, phytoplankton

Ocean color remote sensing was originally started to observe chlorophyll a, which represents the total amount of phytoplankton. However, now it is used to study the primary production, community structure, and terrestrial materials transport, which are important for carbon cycle, and biogeochemically and ecologically. It is also expected to serve practical purposes, such as monitoring of red tides, floating seaweeds, and volcanic activities, etc. Despite significant spatial-temporal variability of those marine phenomena, cloud interference affects ocean color observations, therefore high spatial-temporal resolutions are necessary. Additionally, detecting subtle color differences of the low reflectance sea surface requires high signal-to-noise ratio and high wavelength resolution. In order to address these challenges in future mission, we propose to launch multiple small satellites, leveraging the existing SGLI as the core sensor, and demonstrating its effectiveness. The satellites would include; 1) small satellites with performance similar to SGLI, 2) more-wavelength sensors capturing specific spectra of phytoplankton fluorescence and community, and red tide plankton, 3) high-spatial resolution sensors for coastal areas, 4) Lidar for vertical distribution, 5) polarization sensors for next-generation atmospheric correction and understanding underwater substances. By emphasizing the use of these small satellites, we aim to establish a more robust observation system in the future. Furthermore, we suggest creating a collaborative framework with other fields and the private sectors under the TF to realize this mission.