Global Phytoplankton Fluorescence Data for Algal Bloom Detection

Aqua MODIS Level-3 Global Binned Fluorescence Line Height (FLH) Data quantifies chlorophyll-a fluorescence emitted by phytoplankton. The dataset is produced by NASA's OB_CLOUD organization from MODIS satellite observations. It is used for detecting harmful algal blooms and assessing phytoplankton physiology.

Use Cases

• Detect and track harmful algal blooms (HABs) by analyzing elevated nflh values in satellite imagery.
• Identify productive ocean waters by mapping spatial patterns in the nflh variable.
• Assess phytoplankton physiology by correlating nflh measurements with ipar (photosynthetically available radiation) data.
• Study coastal water quality by analyzing FLH trends, noting increased uncertainty in optically complex waters.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage from MODIS satellite observations.
• Provides a specific geophysical variable (nflh) for chlorophyll-a fluorescence.

Limitations

• Uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal and inland waters.
• Specific row count, temporal range, and update frequency are unknown.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (OB_CLOUD)

Collection Method

Derived from MODIS satellite water-leaving radiance measurements, computed as the height above a spectrally interpolated baseline.

Geography

Global