The Marine Optical BuoY (MOBY) is a NASA/NOAA funded project to provide vicarious calibration of ocean color satellites (SeaWiFS and MODIS) (Clark et al., 1997).  MOBY is an autonomus optical buoy which is moored off the island of Lanai in Hawaii.  The system was designed for measuring light energy entering and leaving the ocean.  And to provide these measurements in near real time for the vicarious calibration processes conducted by NASA.  The development of this system began in 1985, a prototype was first deployed in Monterey Bay in 1993, and again in 1995 in Hawaii. Based on the test evaluation results, some of the buoy and optical components were reengineered and an operational version was tested in the fall of 1996 in Hawaii.  MOBY became operational in July of 1997, and has been in continual operation since.  Moss Landing Marine Marine Laboratories (MLML) was selected through a NOAA grant process to participate in the engineering and construction of the prototype and opertation version of the system in 1989??.    Additionally, MLML has had the primary responsibility for maintaining, calibrating the buoy and data production of the system.
 

The intent of this site is to provide the background information associated with the system and a complete documentation of the data products and parameters collected during the operational period. A complete description of the system and product derivation can be found in the Papers and Posters Link. The photo gallery will document some of the operations and personnel involved in this project.