MERIS in‐flight spectral calibration

This paper will describe the spectral calibration activities conducted during the MERIS commissioning phase and during operation since orbit 12000. MERIS is a medium resolution (300–1200m) push‐broom imaging spectrometer covering the spectral domain 390–1040nm with 15 bands, programmable in position and width down to steps of 1.25nm. The onboard spectral calibration hardware is based on the use of an Erbium doped‐diffuser panel presenting well‐defined absorption peaks. In the spectral calibration mode, MERIS is configured with narrow bands centred on an Erbium absorption feature (two are used). The first orbit, the instrument is calibrated by viewing the “white” radiometric diffuser plate and the following orbit the “pink” Erbium diffuser plate is deployed. This method allows each of the MERIS detectors involved to be characterized in wavelength. The Fraunhofer absorption lines were used to complement these results by providing additional measurements in the violet and near infrared part of the spectrum. For this method, MERIS was configured both for Earth and diffuser observations and acquired data for only a limited number of orbits. This procedure was repeated for different band settings covering a number of Fraunhofer absorption lines. Finally, using Oxygen (O2A) absorption Earth observation data, two different approaches were developed, one based on the retrieval of surface pressure and one based on the shape of the O2A absorption band. Both methods were developed for clear sky land observations, but their performances are improved over bright land targets. Both methods agree to within an accuracy of 0.02 nm. The results from the different methods are analyzed in order to propose a spectral model for the MERIS instrument. Preliminary results of the spectral variation with time are reported. Except camera 4, the instrument is quite stable with time. Camera 4 needs further investigations to better understand its behaviour. Except for the use of the MERIS oxygen band, the spectral characterization of the other MERIS bands is achieved within the nominal accuracy (1 nm).