1. ISAC Contribution to Ocean Color activity Mediterranean high resolution surface chlorophyll mapping Use available bio-optical data sets to estimate the uncertainties of the existing ocean colour algorithms and to define an optimal chlorophyll algorithm for the Mediterranean Sea. Adapt the OC processing software to include selected regional algorithms and validate satellite chlorophyll estimates on the basis of in situ data. Evaluate the uncertainties of all current global satellite chlorophyll products available from public archive (e.g. DAAC) in the Mediterranean Reprocessing SeaWiFS dataset using the selected Mediterranean algorithm Prepare Mediterranean gridded data compatible with model requirements.

2. ISAC Contribution to SST activity ISAC contribution to SST activity during the first 18 months of Project will coincides with the work funded by MFSTEP and Medspiration: 1.Improving the MFS SST observing system 2.Providing in NRT daily SST objectively interpolated maps during and after MFSTEP TOP phase 3.Collaborating in in developing the OI methodology for generating L4 UHR products 4.Test and validate the method to the diurnal variation proposed by the GHRSST in the Mediterranean sea. Define the limits of its applicability in within the context of the OI implementation. 5.Define space and time scale scales of the covariance function in the Mediterranean

3. T H E N E W MFSTEP SST P R O D U C T S f l o w c h a r t Data mergingISAC AVHRR data acquisition and processing (NOAA satellites) SST daily composite of the Atlantic buffer zone + west med binned on 1/16° x 1/16° Mediterranean model gridMF SST daily composite of The whole Mediterranean basin binned on 1/16° x 1/16° Mediterranean model gridISAC Every Tuesday Objective Interpolation Data delivery on the GOS-ISAC web-site

4. ISAC Contribution to Ocean Color activity Comparison of different ocean colour sensors and development of inter-calibration and merging techniques Contribute to the definition of the suitable inter-calibration and merging technique for OC data Identify the characteristic time/space scales of the chlorophyll field in the Mediterranean Sea Develop an appropriate method to produce daily fields of ocean colour parameters for data assimilation for Mediterranean Sea. Define an optimal interpolation algorithm that takes in to account the different characteristics of ocean colour retrieval in case I/case II. Validate SeaWiFS, Polder, MODIS, MERIS chlorophyll products as well as merged binned data produced by Mersea ageist in situ observation

5. Bio-optical measurements: (103 chl/opt measurement points) to define the Mediterranean regional algorithm In water downwelling irradiance and upwelling radiance profiles using SATLANTIC SPMR above water measurements using the SIMBAD and SIMBADA radiometer In the bio-optical stations phytoplankton pigments distribution (HPLC and spectro-fluorometric analysis) and ancillary biological data were also acquired following NASA protocols. In situ chlorophyll-a data: (> 800 chl profiles) to validate SeaWiFS, Polder, MODIS, MERIS chlorophyll products and merged level 3 binned data produced by Mersea Mediterranean Ocean Color CAL/VAL DATA SETS 10 Mediterranean cruises from 1998 up to now were organized by ISAC in the framework of Italian National Projects Bio-optical stations

6. T H E ADRICOSM S A T E L L I T E O B S E R V I N G S Y S T E M SST daily products for the Adriatic Sea SST data (AVHRR) on AREG model grid gif images of SST at 1 km resolution Ocean Color daily products for the Adriatic Sea Chlorophyll data (SeaWiFS) on AREG model grid gif images of chlorophyll at 1 km resolution gif images of case I / case II / clouds masks 0101 1001 0101 1001

7. T H E S A T E L L I T E O B S E R V I N G S Y S T E M t h e i m p r o v e m e n t f o r t h e A d r i a t i c S e a Development of SST daily products for the Adriatic Sea SST data (AVHRR) on AREG model grid gif images of SST at 1 km resolution Development of Color daily products for the Adriatic Sea Chlorophyll data (SeaWiFS) on AREG model grid gif images of chlorophyll at 1 km resolution gif images of case I / case II / clouds masks 0101 1001 0101 1001

8. T H E S A T E L L I T E O B S E R V I N G S Y S T E M t h e i m p r o v e m e n t f o r t h e A d r i a t i c S e a Development of SST daily products for the Adriatic Sea SST data (AVHRR) on AREG model grid gif images of SST at 1 km resolution Development of Color daily products for the Adriatic Sea Chlorophyll data (SeaWiFS) on AREG model grid gif images of chlorophyll at 1 km resolution gif images of case I / case II / clouds masks 0101 1001 0101 1001