This record contains data collected on the FV Laurina P on four voyages between September 1997 and April 1998, along the NSW coast between Byron Bay and Wapengo. A total of 56 samples were collected. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and satellite retrieved chlorophyll a estimate.

This record describes Bio-Optics data collected from the Marine National Facility (MNF) RV Investigator voyage: IN2016_V05, titled: "The Great Barrier Reef as a significant source of climatically relevant aerosol particles." The data were collected as part of the supplementary project titled: "Biogeochemical and optical properties of the Coral Sea and Queensland Shelf." The voyage, departing from and returning to Brisbane, QLD, took place between September 26 to October 24, 2016. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments, total suspended solids, and absorption coefficients.

This record contains data collected at 16 stations on the Franklin cruise FR07/07 in an area between the mouth of the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea and the equator. The data were collected to determine the bio-optical characteristics of this region and the effect of the Sepik River outflow on such data. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and the absorption coefficient for dissolved (CDOM) particulate (a/p) and detrital or non-algal (a/d) components of the water column. A BSI (Biospherical Instruments) six channel radiometer was also deployed during this voyage.

This record contains data collected from a total of 20 stations on an unknown vessel, east of Deeral, Queensland. The samples were collected during January 2013. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured include Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSM), including the organic and inorganic fractions; the absorption coefficients of the particulate and dissolved components of the water column and the phytoplankton pigment concentration and composition.

This record contains data collected on the FV Tonka between 10 July 1997 and 9 November 1998. During eight trips out of Mooloolaba, Queensland, 71 samples were collected. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and satellite retrieved chlorophyll a estimate.

This record contains data collected from a total of 13 stations on an unknown vessel, in the Coral Sea adjacent to Mission Beach, Queensland. The samples were collected during November 2012. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured include Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSM), including the organic and inorganic fractions; the absorption coefficients of the particulate and dissolved components of the water column and the phytoplankton pigment concentration and composition.

This record contains data collected on the RV Melville between 18 and 24 June 2003 in the North West Shelf. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and the absorption coefficient for particulate (ap) and detrital or non-algal (ad) components of the water column. 29 stations were sampled as well as 30 underway locations. The data was used primarily to validate ocean colour sensors MERIS, MODIS and SeaWIFs and the SST sensor AATSR.

This record contains data collected on the RV Southern Surveyor on the west coast of Tasmania. The cruise ran from 23 July to 06 August 2004, with samples for this dataset collected between 26 July and 02 August 2004. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured are the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments and retrieved chlorophyll a estimate, the absorption coefficient for dissolved (aCDOM) particulate (a/p) and detrital or non-algal (a/d) components of the water column. 12 stations were sampled. The data was used primarily to validate ocean colour sensors MERIS, MODIS and SeaWIFs and the SST sensor AATSR. Samples were collected and analysed for pigments, and dissolved and particulate absorption coefficients.

This record contains data collected from the near-water surface sampling site off the Lucinda Jetty, as part of the Lucinda Jetty Coastal Observatory. The samples were collected from April 8th to 9th, 2010. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation. Parameters measured include the absorption coefficients of the particulate and dissolved components of the water column and the phytoplankton pigment concentration and composition.

This record contains data generated from 19 stations in the Torres Strait between September 2, 2016 and September 6, 2016 using the vessel, Eclipse D. CSIRO acquired bio-optical measurements in the Torres Strait and Great Barrier Reef, as part of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Earth Venture Suborbital mission: Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL, http://coral.jpl.nasa.gov). The goal of this airborne hyperspectral remote sensing project is to provide critical data and new models needed to analyse the status of coral reefs and to predict their future status. The CORAL mission includes PRISM (Portable Remote Imaging Spectrometer) airborne hyperspectral transects over portions of the southern and northern Great Barrier Reef (GBR), including the Torres Strait. Parameters measured include Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSM), including the organic and inorganic fractions; the absorption coefficients of the particulate and dissolved components of the water column and the phytoplankton pigment concentration and composition. The data can be used for Ocean Colour sensor validation.