Introduction 



Global observations from earth-orbiting satellites began in the 1960's 

 with imagers utilizing vidicons for cloud imagery to study the dynamic 

 motions for meteorological purposes. Oceans were observed, but only the 

 brightest features such as river plumes were observable with these early 

 sensors. Even then it was obvious that satellites presented an opportunity 

 to study the vast areas of the oceans in a manner and timeframe impossible 

 with ships or aircraft, since an area of 250,000 square miles could be 

 observed in one minute. Development of improved optical sensors 

 paralleled an increase in interest by oceanographers in studying oceans 

 from space. Ship and aircraft ocean color measurements showed that 

 ocean color could be related to water content in a meaningful way, and 

 that the effects of interference by atmospheric backscatter of sunlight 

 could be overcome. These developments led to an opportunity in the early 

 1970's where scientific interest, sensor technology, availability of a near- 

 ideal spacecraft, and recognition of the potential benefits by NASA gave 

 birth to the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) program. 



The CZCS sensor utilizes scanning techniques developed for 

 meteorological and earth resources purposes modified to add a tilt 

 capability to avoid glint, and with spectral bands and dynamic ranges 

 optimized for ocean color. Details of the sensor characteristics are given 

 by Hovis et al. (1980). A scheme to remove the interfering effects of the 

 atmosphere, Rayleigh and aerosol backscatter, was developed by 

 members of the CZCS Nimbus Experiment Team (NET) Gordon et al. 

 (1980) and Gordon et al. (1983). This atmospheric correction scheme is the 

 most unique element of the CZCS program, and makes possible the results 

 shown in this atlas. 



The atlas is intended to provide interpretations of CZCS products from 

 the viewpoints of a wide range of oceanographic scientists as an 

 introduction for those not already familiar with the potential of space for 

 such information gathering. Experience has shown that each scientist who 

 examines a CZCS product sees something unique based on his own 

 experience. It is the goal of the atlas and the CZCS NET to introduce these 

 products to the widest possible spectrum of users and assist them in 

 acquiring and interpreting the data. To that end, the data is deposited in a 

 public archive, the Satellite Data Services Division of NOAA, NESDIS, 

 with no restriction on its dissemination except the modest cost of 

 reproduction. A list of the NET members and the address of the archive is 

 found on page xix. 



Warren A. Hovis, Chairman 

 CZCS, Nimbus Experiment Team 



References 



Gordon, H. R., D. K. Clark, J. L. Mueller, and W. A. Hovis. 1980: Phytoplankton 



pigments from the Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner: Comparisons with surface 



measurements. Science. 210, 63-66. 

 Gordon. H. R., D. K. Clark, J. W. Brown, O. B. Brown. R. H. Evans, and W. W. 



Broenkow. 1983: Phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the Middle Atlantic Bight: 



Comparison of ship'determinations and CZCS estimates. .Applied Optics, 11. 20-36. 

 Hovis. W. A.. D. K. Clark. F. Anderson. R. W. Austin. W. H. Wilson. E. T. Baker. D. Ball, 



H. R. Gordon. J. L. Mueller. S. Z. El-Sayed. B. Sturm. R. C. Wrigley, and C. S. 



Yentsch, 1980: Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner: System description and initial 



imagery. Science, 210, 60-63. 



vn 



