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As part of the FRM4SAR project, DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.) and UZH (University of Zurich) have written two documents addressing the topic of the geometric calibration for SAR:

• The TN-100  (UZH-FRM4SAR-TN-100, Issue 1.03, 2017-08-22)
 aims at explaining how to deploy a proper site based on Corner Reflectors.
• The TN-200  (DLR-FRM4SAR-TN-200, Issue 1.4, 2018-04-26) aims at defining a protocol for performing the measurements and corrections for a proper survey

They are available for download at the following link

DIRECT 2.0 ground database is now made available by the Land Product Validation Subgroup LPV

DIRECT 2.0 filters forest sites with no understory and expands the time serie of up to 2017 with the inclusion of more than 60 new sites (coming from FP7 ImagineS, ESA and EOLAB campaigns). DIRECT 2.0 contains 140 sites and 242 samples (2000-2017)

Please download the database from the following link : DIRECT 2.0

For further details see on the OLIVE tool

The impact of solar variability on the Earth's climate has a long history as a research field, and has also become a hotly debated topic. Although there is strong evidence for this natural forcing to be weak in comparison to that of man-made greenhouse gases, large uncertainties remain regarding the magnitude of the variation of the spectral solar irradiance dataset and thus also on the magnitude of its impacts.

This reference spectrum is recommended by the CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation (CEOS WGCV), particularly the Infrared and Visible Optical Sensors Subgroup. Details can be found under the following link:

CEOS Reference Solar Irradiance Spectrum

Event: Workshop on Radiometric Calibration for European Optical Missions

Dates: August 30-31, 2017

Location: ESA/ESRIN Frascati, Italy

URL: https://earth.esa.int/web/sppa/meetings-workshops/expert-meetings/workshop-on-radiometric-calibration-for-european-optical-missions

Important Dates: 

Description: The objectives of the workshop were to report on the status on the current calibration performance for the European Missions (Proba-V, Sentinel-2A, Sentinel-2B, Sentinel-3 OLCI and SLSTR, MERIS and ATSR), to compare the various approaches used by the different missions and to identify open points and issues. The discussions aimed at giving coherence between the various missions in term of radiometric calibration. This workshop was a European contribution to the CEOS WGCV/IVOS group on the calibration harmonisation discussion, in particular, the ‘harmonisation of calibration coefficients' between missions and if and how we could agree on radiometric standard between missions. A report on the "operational calibration methods" (how the operation gains are derived) was achieved through this workshop. During this discussion the common parts and the differences between missions were identified. Moreover, the way to validate them (inter-comparison, vicarious methods) was discussed. Issues, open points and questions were also analysed. In the second day further discussions took place on the methods and matters related to the vicarious calibration techniques. The participation was limited to European key actors in the calibration domain, with an invitation to NASA colleagues, in order to share their experiences.

Keywords: Radiometric Calibration, Proba-V, Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3, ESA, NASA

Event: 2nd Workshop of CEOS-WGCV Atmospheric Correction Inter-comparison Exercise

Dates: April 11-12, 2017

Location: ESA/ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

URL: https://earth.esa.int/web/sppa/meetings-workshops/acix

Important Dates: Results Submission Deadline: 15-Dec-2016 | Results Analysis Report: 1-Mar-2017

Description: ACIX is an international collaborative initiative to inter-compare a set of atmospheric correction (AC) processors for high-spatial resolution optical sensors. The exercise will focus on Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 imagery over a set of test areas. The inter-comparison of the derived Bottom-of-Atmosphere (BOA) products is expected to contribute to the understanding of the different uncertainty contributors and help in improving the AC processors.

Keywords: atmospheric correction, remote sensing, Sentinel-2, Landsat-8

Event: The Annual Meeting on Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing (CALCON Technical Meeting)

Dates:  August 22 – 25, 2016

Location: Eccles Conference Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

URL: http://www.calcon.sdl.usu.edu/

Important Dates: Abstract Deadline April 5, 2016

Description: Calibration is becoming increasingly more challenging as measurement requirements for many of today's remote sensing applications become more stringent. The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing (CALCON) annual meeting provides a forum for scientists, engineers, and managers to present, discuss, and learn about calibration, characterization, and radiometric issues within the microwave, IR, visible, and UV spectral ranges. Individuals developing measurement requirements for current and future sensor systems are encouraged to participate in the meetings to foster continuity and advancement within the community. CALCON attendance enables interaction with other experts, helps close the gap between expectations and real-world experiences, and may result in the discovery of solutions to individual program challenges. Stephanie Halton Utah State University Research Foundation calcon@usurf.usu.edu 435.713.3058

Keywords: calibration, remote sensing, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, international

Event: Arctic Products Validation & Evolution Workshop II

Dates: 27-28 October 2015

Location: Arbetets Museum at Norrköping, Sweden

URL: http://calvalportal.ceos.org/events/apveii-workshop

Important Dates: Abstract submission Deadline 15 June 2015 / Registration to the Workshop Deadline 1 September 2015

Description: In response to strategic priorities common to all high-latitude and Arctic Nations and most of which are Member States of the European Space Agency (ESA); ESA, in collaboration with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and LOOKNorth (Canada) is organizing the 2nd International Workshop on Arctic Products Validation and Evolution (APVE). The APVE Workshop II will foster the development, assessment and improvement of the broad spectrum of capabilities offered by Space-based Earth observation technology in response to high-Latitude and Arctic stakeholders information needs addressing National, Regional, and International interests. The focus of the second of three international workshops will be on existing agency data, and modeling and simulations of future capabilities (evolution). Scientists and validation experts are provided with the opportunity to present latest results from their on-going research, including the evolution of products, the development of validation processes, the inter-comparison methodologies and the evolution of algorithms. The workshop will focus primarily on optical imaging sensors supporting modeling and simulations with some elements of radar, from ESA missions and national missions. During this workshop results from recently reprocessed data sets will be presented and contributions for future ESA missions using existing data sets and validation infrastructures are encouraged. Participants are encouraged to submit abstracts for presentations and posters for the workshops.

Keywords: APVE II- Arctic Product, Validation, Workshop

Event: ISSPI 2nd Workshop

Dates: 14-16 September 2015

Location: University Memorial Center (UMC) Main Campus, Colorado University Boulder, Colorado, USA.

URL: http://calvalportal.ceos.org/projects/snowpex/isspi-2nd-workshop

Important Dates: Abstract Submission by 10 June 2015 / Registration by 31 July 2015

Description: The main objective of the project SnowPEx is the intercomparison and validation of hemispheric and global satellite snow products for estimation of temporal trends of the seasonal snow cover and assessing their accuracy. The main providers on satellite snow extent and water equivalent products are participating in this exercise. In the 1st International Satellite Snow Products Intercomparison Workshop, held at NOAA, Maryland, in July 2014, the community discussed and agreed on methods and protocols for intercomparison of products and their validation using reference data sets from various environments and surface types around the world. Overview and status on products and reference data sets are accessible at http://snowpex.enveo.at. The 2nd International Workshop on Satellite Snow Products Intercomparison aims to present and discuss the current status of the snow products validation and intercomparison, to check the trend analysis and to elaborate guidelines for quantifying uncertainty estimates. Scientists are encouraged to submit abstracts for presentations and posters at the workshop.

Keywords: SnowPex, Worskshop, Validation