Potential for Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR)
Citation:
Schaeffer, B., P. Whitman, R. Vandermeulen, A. Mannino, AND J. Salisbury. Potential for Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR). 2023 International Ocean Colour Science Meeting, St. Petersburg, FL, November 14 - 17, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Preliminary summary of the technical capabilities of a new NASA satellite instrument for water quality measures. We evaluate potential temporal, spatial, and radiometric ranges of the instrument for uses in coastal U.S. waters.
Description:
The Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer (GLIMR) will provide high temporal frequency observations of the United States coastal waters. The spatial, temporal, and radiometric resolutions of GLIMR are evaluated and compared to other satellites typically used for water quality measures. GLIMR’s median 391 m pixel resolution is within the range necessary for resolving oil spills, half of CONUS estuaries, and most sub-estuaries. Temporal resolution ranges from 6 to 12 hours in a day, with up to six revisits per day for the coastal United States. GLIMR scan times can change from the mission default of 0.76 seconds depending on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) application requirement and to leverage multi-mission observations. Across the visible wavelengths, SNR is sufficient for classifying binary oil detect and non-detect at the default scan time as well as at double and 0.7 times this scan time. Glint thresholds are mapped in two-hour increments for the December solstice, June solstice, and March and September equinoxes. Sub-daily, hyperspectral observations from GLIMR may supplement existing water quality observations particularly at lower latitude coastal areas. GLIMR has the potential to provide unprecedented observations of ocean color dynamics, in addition to harmful algal bloom and oil spill event response, valuable for management applications.
