Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Mission: Advanced Oceanic and Atmospheric Satellite Observations for Science-driven Hydrology Applications

Abstract:

The next great contribution from NASA to study the earth ecosystem, including the open ocean and coastal and inland waters is the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission. PACE will build upon the legacy that NASA earth science has established with over four decades of satellite instruments including CZCS launched in 1978 and following with SeaWiFS, MODIS, and VIIRS. PACE is expected to launch in 2023 and will carry the hyperspectral Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), as well as two multi-angle polarimeters (SPEXone and HARP-2). OCI will provide an unprecedented view of the entire earth every two days, and PACE’s anticipated science data products will advance our understanding of aquatic ecosystems including large inland lakes, estuaries, and coastal regions, which are key elements in the hydrologic cycle and in water resource management.

This presentation will highlight the capabilities of the instruments on onboard the PACE observatory, showcasing PACE’s ability to advance society through improved decision-making capabilities, including advanced harmful algal bloom detection, optimized biothreat assessment, encouraging sustainable ecotourism, promoting responsible fishery practices, and supporting environmentally conscientious aquaculture. PACE will continue heritage MODIS and VIIRS visible, near-infrared, and shortwave-infrared data products at 1 km resolution, as well as producing new hyperspectral-reliant products, not possible with MODIS and VIIRS due to their limited spectral capabilities. PACE will advance aquatic geospatial retrievals and enable assessment of phytoplankton community composition.