The Marine Optical BuoY (MOBY) Technology Refresh and Time Series

Successful satellite ocean color radiometry depends on post-launch vicarious calibration, and the Marine Optical BuoY (MOBY) has been providing the data for this process since 1997. This system is moored off of the island of Lanai, HI. and derives the upwelling water leaving radiance which is then provided to ocean color processing groups for use in their vicarious calibration efforts. To obtain the water leaving radiance, measurements of the upwelling radiance at three depths in the ocean, along with downwelling surface irradiance are made. We are currently in the process of upgrading the control and optical systems in MOBY. The optical system will move from a reflective holographic grating system, capable of only sequential measurements of the light measurements required, to an inline volume phase holographic system which can make the required light measurements simultaneously. We will describe this system, and the results from the first test deployment of the new optical system. In addition, a view of the nearly 20-year MOBY vicarious calibration data set will be presented.