NASA Ocean Color

Getting Started

What kinds of data do we produce?

The Ocean Biology Processing Group collects and processes data from Earth-viewing satellites. These data are organized in various ways reflecting different spatial, temporal, and parameter groupings. Over the years, certain terminology has arisen to describe these organizational conventions. Here are some links to explanations of these terms.

Learn about ocean color data:

What kinds of services do we provide?

NASA's Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) supports the collection, processing, calibration, validation, archive and distribution of ocean-related products from a number of missions which are supported within the framework and facilities of the NASA Ocean Data Processing System (ODPS) which has been successfully supporting operational, satellite-based remote-sensing missions since 1996. The group's capabilities continue to evolve and expand to meet the demands and challenges of future missions. Read more about what we do.

How is data managed?

Data Overview

What are analysis and visualization options?

The Sea, earth, atmosphere Data Analysis System (SeaDAS) is a comprehensive software package for the processing, display, analysis, and quality control of remote-sensing Earth data. Read more about SeaDAS!

Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers page

Collection

The Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) maintains partnerships with national and international partners to collect (ingest) data from ocean color instruments aboard Earth-viewing missions.

Processing

The Ocean Data Processing System (ODPS) processes data into products which are organized in various ways reflecting different spatial, temporal, and parameter groupings.

Calibration

The SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS) is a public repository of in situ oceanographic and atmospheric data maintained by the OBPG to support routine algorithm development and scientific calibration efforts.

Validation

The SeaBASS archive also provides ground-truth comparisons between in situ measurements and coincident satellite-borne ocean color instrument observations through its Validation Seach feature.

Distribution

Distribution is provided through various tools on our ocean color data portal where users can subscribe to data, create orders, define regions of interest or download directly from file listings or visual tools.