Abstract
Ocean Scanning Multispectral Imager (OSMI) is a payload on the Korean Multi-Purpose SATellite (KOMPSAT) to perform global ocean color monitoring for the study of biological oceanography. HOMPSAT was launched 21 December 1999. The radiometric performance of OSMI is analyzed for various gain settings in the viewpoint of the instrument developer for OSMI calibration and application based on its ground performance data measured before launch. The radiometric response linearity and dynamic range are analyzed and the dynamic range is compared with the nominal input radiance for the ocean and the land. The noise equivalent radiance (NER) corresponding to the instrument radiometric noise is compared with the radiometric resolution of signal digitization (1-count equivalent radiance). The best gain setting of OSMI for ocean monitoring is recommended. This analysis is considered to be useful for the OSMI mission and operation planning, the OSMI image data calibration, and users' understanding about OSMI image quality.