Aqua MODIS Particulate Inorganic Carbon: Global Ocean Satellite Data

Global satellite-derived ocean data produced by the Ocean Biology DAAC. The dataset provides near real-time estimates of particulate inorganic carbon (calcite) concentration, calculated using the Balch & Gordon algorithm from ocean-color reflectance. It is designed for monitoring coccolithophore blooms and assessing carbonate cycling.

Use Cases

• Detect and quantify coccolithophore blooms based on particulate inorganic carbon concentration.
• Assess marine carbonate cycling and optical backscatter based on calcite concentration data.
• Provide biogeochemical context alongside other ocean variables like chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature.

Strengths

• Data is produced in near real-time, providing a snapshot of ocean conditions.
• Derived from NASA's Aqua MODIS satellite sensor, a well-established source for ocean-color data.
• Algorithm is specifically designed for retrieving particulate inorganic carbon from ocean reflectance.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal waters or under high aerosol/glint conditions.

Provenance

Source

NASA Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_CLOUD).

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via Aqua MODIS instrument, processed using the Balch & Gordon algorithm.

Freshness

Near real-time (NRT) production suggests frequent updates, but specific update frequency is unknown.

Geography

Global ocean coverage.