Ryan Vandermeulen

Papers

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About

Ryan Vandermeulen is a leading figure in ocean color remote sensing, with a focus on coastal and diurnal processes. His research centers on the calibration and validation of satellite ocean color products, particularly for the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Vandermeulen’s major contributions include pioneering work on diurnal changes in ocean color, demonstrating that coastal waters can shift on hourly scales due to tides, winds, and biology—a finding critical for accurate satellite validation. His most-cited paper (8 citations) on this topic highlights the need for high-temporal-resolution observations. He also developed regional vicarious gain adjustments for coastal VIIRS products (4 citations), refining bio-optical algorithms for nearshore environments. As part of the Naval Research Lab’s Ocean Cal/Val Team, Vandermeulen has advanced the reliability of satellite data for monitoring coastal ecosystems. His work directly supports operational oceanography and climate studies, ensuring that satellite-derived products like chlorophyll and suspended sediment are accurate in dynamic coastal zones. For students and researchers, Vandermeulen’s research underscores the challenges of observing rapidly changing coastal waters from space and the importance of rigorous calibration for meaningful environmental insights.