PyTOAST: Python Top Of Atmosphere Simulation Tool

PyTOAST generates simulated top-of-atmosphere Level-1B files for the PACE Ocean ColorInstrument (OCI). PyTOAST utilizes retrieved surface and atmospheric properties and top-ofatmosphere (TOA) radiances from MODIS and VIIRS, pre-computed radiative-transfer look-uptables for the OCI spectral response, and spectral libraries of land and clouds to produce realisticradiometry in the standard Level-1B format (https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/pace/format/)of OCI. The PyTOAST simulator is computationally efficient, and thus allows for large scaleproduction of multi-day global data distributions with realistic viewing geometries for testing ofretrieval software mechanics and data flow.