Advancing Ocean Color Observations: The GeoXO Mission's Enhanced Capabilities for Geostationary Monitoring of the Oceans

The forthcoming Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) mission is set to transcend current GOES-R satellite series capabilities by enabling advanced ocean color observations within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zones and Great Lakes from a geostationary orbit, tailored to NOAA's observational needs. Developed collaboratively by NOAA and NASA, this mission is scheduled for an early 2030s launch, featuring a constellation of three satellites, two of which will incorporate cutting-edge ocean color sensors. The ocean color instrument (OCX), an advanced hyperspectral imager, will capture light across the UV to NIR spectrum with a high spatial resolution better than 390 meters, and high temporal resolution, for frequent observations occurring at intervals of no more than 3 hours during the daytime. This rapid monitoring will unravel short-term daily processes in ocean ecosystems, detect Harmful Algal Blooms, and surmount cloud interference challenges, ultimately enhancing spatiotemporal coverage. Subsequent discussions will provide a concise overview of OCX's capabilities and showcase simulated scenes, highlighting the instrument's effectiveness.