Fiducial Reference Measurements are independent sea surface measurements that provide confidence in satellite data products, through independent validation of satellite measurement uncertainty during the satellite mission. Inter-comparison of these measurements between laboratories, who work on the accuracy of Copernicus Sentinel Ocean Colour and Sea Surface Temperature products, are an important component of quality checks of data collected in the field. During September to November 2017, a field inter-comparison exercise was carried out between Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and Tartu Observatory, Estonia (TO) on the UK research ship, RRS Discovery. A further inter-comparison will be conducted at the Aqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (AAOT) in the Adriatic Sea during July 2018.
