Global Ocean Remote Sensing Reflectance Data from MODIS Aqua

Global satellite-derived remote sensing reflectance (RRS) data from the Aqua MODIS sensor, version 2022.0. The data provides the ratio of water-leaving radiance to downwelling irradiance, which is a foundational observable for retrieving ocean color products. The dataset is produced by OB_CLOUD and sourced from NASA's Earthdata platform.

Use Cases

• Retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration (chlor_a) from Rrs_443 and other Rrs bands using bio-optical algorithms.
• Estimating the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance (Kd_490) from Rrs_490 for water clarity studies.
• Deriving inherent optical properties (IOPs) such as absorption and backscattering from multi-spectral Rrs data (e.g., Rrs_412, Rrs_555).
• Assessing water quality in optically complex coastal and inland waters by analyzing per-pixel quality flags for land, cloud, and sun glint.
• Supporting validation of satellite ocean color products by comparing in-situ measurements with Rrs values at specific band centers.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage from the MODIS Aqua satellite sensor.
• Provides foundational Rrs data for multiple derived oceanographic products.
• Includes per-file quality flags for land, cloud, sun glint, and high aerosol.

Limitations

• Data quality is lower in optically complex coastal and inland waters, requiring careful review of flags.
• Specific row count, file size, and temporal coverage details are unknown.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (OB_CLOUD).

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the Aqua MODIS instrument.

Time Range

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Freshness

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Geography

Global ocean coverage.