Temporal and spatial variability of seawifs-derived ocean color and aerosol in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean during Nauru99 Original Research Article

Observations of aerosol optical thickness and spectral water-leaving radiance are carried out onboard R/V MIRAI in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean during the international observation project of Nauru99 (MR99-K03 cruise). In situ data are synchronized with SeaWiFS overpasses and the SeaWiFS-derived aerosol optical thickness and normalized water-leaving radiance products are validated against the in situ data. Furthermore the variability of aerosol optical thickness and normalized water-leaving radiance are investigated in space and time. Based on the SeaWiFS-derived products it was found out that the magnitude and pattern of aerosol optical thickness at 443 and 555nm bands are almost the same in terms of space and time and the distribution of low radiance values at 443nm roughly correspond to the high chlorophyl distribution area between 2 degrees north and 3 degrees south around the equator.