Ocean observation data gathered by the leodo Ocean Research Station 
Will be distributed world-wide through NASA

Ocean observation data gathered by the Ieodo Ocean Research Station will be distributed worldwide through NASA.

The Republic of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), with Kang Jung-keuk as president, announced that it has successfully installed AERONET-OC (the AErosol RObotic NETwork-Ocean Color) at the Ieodo Ocean Research Station as part of the Stay Type Research Plan* of the Republic of Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration (KHOA), and that it has started providing observation data on the sea around Ieodo to the NASA homepage.

* Stay Type Research Plan: Research project pursued by the KHOA since November, 2013, to utilize the Ieodo Ocean Research Station as an advanced base of ocean studies. The project is being implemented jointly by the government, universities, and research institutes.

AERONET-OC is an unmanned automatic observation device that measures the amount of light coming out of the atmosphere and from the sea water according to a set observation schedule. It is installed on ocean towers or other ocean research station structures. About ten AERONET-OCs have been installed world-wide, including in Europe, the United States, and Australia.

KIOST’s successful installation and gathering of data from the AERONET-OC, a first in Northeast Asia, is expected to contribute to providing precise satellite data to nations throughout the world in conjunction with other devices already installed in other regions.

Using AERONET-OC, KIOST will conduct research to improve the accuracy of data collected by the Chollian Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI), the world’s first GOCI* operated by the Republic of Korea Ocean Satellite Center (KOSC). 

*Geostationary Ocean Color Imager: This satellite is located at an orbit where it revolves around the earth at the same speed as the earth rotates. Unlike low-orbit satellites that change observation locations every hour, the GOCI observes changes in one area of the ocean. 

Park Young-je, director of KOSC at KIOST, said, “AERONET-OC will provide real-time data on the ocean surrounding Ieodo to users of satellite data all around the world. We expect that AERONET-OC will also help improve the accuracy of satellite data, giving people the benefit of more precise and useful data, such as changes in the marine environment, observation of red-tides, and information on fishing grounds.”

Director Park also said, “The NASA homepage is visited not only by satellite data users but also many other people in the world. The data provided by NASA is also clearly labeled “Iedo, Republic of Korea.”