Coastal Atmosphere & Sea Time Series (CoASTS) and Bio-Optical mapping of Marine optical Properties (BiOMaP): the CoASTS-BiOMaP dataset

Abstract. The Coastal Atmosphere & Sea Time Series (CoASTS) and the Bio-Optical mapping of Marine optical Properties (BiOMaP) programs produced bio-optical data supporting satellite ocean color applications for almost two decades. Specifically, relying on the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (AAOT) in the northern Adriatic Sea, from 1995 till 2016 CoASTS delivered time series of marine water apparent and inherent optical properties, in addition to the concentration of major optically significant water constituents. Almost concurrently, from 2000 till 2022 BiOMaP produced equivalent spatially distributed measurements across major European Seas. Both, CoASTS and BiOMaP applied equal standardized instruments, measurement methods, quality control schemes and processing codes to ensure temporal and spatial consistency to data products. This work presents the CoASTS and BiOMaP near surface data products, named CoASTS-BiOMaP, of relevance for ocean color bio-optical modelling and validation activities.