The Mediterranean Ocean Colour Observing System: system development and product validation.

This paper presents the Mediterranean Ocean Colour Observing System in the framework of the growing demand of near real time data emerging within the operational oceanography international context. The main issues related with the satellite operational oceanography are tied to (1) the near real-time ability to track data flow uncertainty sources; (2) in case of failure, to provide backup solutions to end-users; and (3) to scientifically assess the product quality. We describe the major scientific and technological steps made to develop, maintain and improve the operational system and its products. A method for assessing the near real-time product quality is deve oped and its limitation discussed. Main results are concerned with the degradation, starting from mid-2010, of the MODIS Aqua channel at 443 nm. The product validation analysis highlights that SeaWiFS chlorophyll product over the Mediterranean Sea is the best performing in comparison with those of MODIS and MERIS. Despite their general good agreement with in situ observations, MODIS- and MERIS-derived chloro phyll present a slight and systematic underestimation of their in situ counter part. The most relevant implications induced by these results are discussed from an operational point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]