NASA Ocean Color

Answer Accessing and downloading ocean color satellite data is made convenient through various options on our website.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

Click the "Quick Links" button on the home page.
For direct download of specific files, select "Direct Data Access". From there, choose the desired data level, mission (e.g., SeaWiFS, MODIS, VIIRS), year, date, and time to locate and download the specific file you need.
Use the "File Search" option under the "Data" section to search for and download multiple files based on criteria like time, level, and more in one go.
Access the "Level 1/2 Browser" or "Level 3/4 Browser" to select, view, subset, order, and download the specific products you're interested in. Further details can be found on the corresponding L1/2 help and L3/4 help pages.
Utilize the "Data Dashboard" to effortlessly create and manage orders, subscriptions, or define user regions.

For additional information and specifics, please refer to the resources available under the "Data" tab.

Answer Yes, all ocean color data undergoes processing from Level-0 raw data packets to higher-level products, adhering to the standard definitions of the NASA Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program.: These data products, starting from Level-1, are distributed in Network Common Data Form (NetCDF), following ESDS file structure and meta-data standards. Specifically, all Level-2 products align with the general format of the current standard ocean products produced by NASA’s Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG), as detailed here. Additionally, Level-2 data is composited into global daily, 8-day, and monthly Level-3 products. These Level-3 ocean color products also adhere to the standard OBPG format for binned and mapped products. Moreover, all science data files conform to the standard naming convention of the Ocean Biology Processing Group.

Answer Certainly!: You can find a range of technical documents, including product descriptions, quality flags information, algorithm theoretical basis documentations, ancillary data, and more under the "Resources" section.

Answer Certainly! You can find this information on the ocean color website.

Just go to the "RESOURCES" tab on the home page. There, you'll see a section called "Quality Assessment" which covers three important aspects:

Product Validation: This uses SeaBASS in situ data to ensure the quality of our products.
Global L3 Trends: This section provides detailed descriptions and summaries of global trends using L3 data.
Mission Quality Monitor: Here, you'll find updates on the status of our missions and any data gaps that may be present.

Answer Feel free to post any questions related to ocean color on the Earthdata forum. Our experts are dedicated to providing timely and helpful responses.

For updates specifically related to OB.DAAC, you can look forward to receiving information in our Quarterly Newsletter. Likewise, the PACE newsletter will keep you informed about updates related to the PACE program.

To stay in the loop about events and news, users can also subscribe to our mailing lists.

Questions and Answers

DATA

How can I access and download ocean color satellite data?

Is the long-term time series data provided in a consistent format?

Are there documents available regarding ocean color metadata, products, quality flags, etc.?

Is there information available about product validation and quality control?

Are there methods to stay informed and communicate regarding the data, missions, and updates?