• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 1999

The satellite visible data have been successfully applied to study the ocean color. Another ocean color sensor, the Ocean Scanning Multi-spectral Imager (OSMI) on the Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT) will be launched in 1999. In order to understand the characteristics of future OSMI images, we have first discussed the simulation models and procedures in detail, and produced typical patterns of radiances at visible bands by using radiative transfer models. The various simulated images of full satellite passes and Korean local areas for different seasons, water types, and the satellite crossing equator time (CET) are presented to illustrate the distribution of each component of radiance (i.e., aerosol scattering, Rayleigh scattering, sun glitter, water-leaving radiance, and total radiance). A method to evaluate the image quality and availability is then developed by using the characteristics of image defined as the Complex Signal Noise Ratio (CSNR). Meanwhile, a series of CSNR images are generated from the simulated radiance components for different cases, which can be used to evaluate the quality and availability of OSMI images before the KOMPSAT will be placed in orbit. Finally, the quality and availability of OSMI images are quantitatively analyzed by the simulated CSNR image. It is hoped that the results would be useful to all scientists who are in charge of OSMI mission and to those who plan to use the data from OSMI.