Lidar networks for monitoring the atmosphere (e.g. EARLINET, NDACC) are well established internationally. Similarly, network of radiometric observations of the ocean color (OC) already exist (e.g. AERONET-OC). These latter observations are used for the validation of the NASA and ESA ocean color space missions and provide only the spectrum of the light backscattered by the ocean from the surface. However, information on the vertical structure of the upper ocean and on the inherent optical properties of seawater (IOPs) cannot be retrieved. Only ship-borne observations provide IOPs but those observations are scare in space and time as they are time- and labor-consuming. A network of in-situ lidar observations will be complementary to the current OC network as it will provide parameters not currently observed by this network and more importantly those observations will be vertically-resolved. This is also very important in the optics of future space-borne ocean color missions based on the lidar technique. One important milestone will be the launch of the LUCE mission in 2032. LUCE will provide vertical profiles of the upper ocean with a vertical resolution around 1 meter. It is necessary to be prepared to validate the products from this space-borne lidar It is the reason for this FORUM.
The objective of this FORUM is to gather attendees from diverse scientific and technological fields to discuss the opportunity to develop a network of in-situ observations using the lidar technique. Those observations will be used to validate current and futures ocean color space missions but also the next generation based on lidar such as the LUCE space mission currently developed by the Italian Space Agency in coordination with NASA.