Global Ocean Color Data from ENVISAT Satellite via GSM Model

ENVISAT MERIS Level-4 data provides global binned ocean-color fields derived by inverting water-leaving reflectance with the Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) semi-analytical model. The dataset retrieves multiple optical properties simultaneously, including absorption by gelbstoff and detrital material, particulate backscattering, and chlorophyll-a concentration. It was produced by OB_CLOUD and last updated in May 2012.

Use Cases

• Modeling phytoplankton biomass by analyzing the global distribution of chl_gsm (chlorophyll-a concentration).
• Studying dissolved organic matter dynamics using the adg_443_gsm (absorption by gelbstoff and detrital material) field.
• Investigating particle scattering properties in ocean waters via the bbp_443_gsm (particulate backscattering) variable.
• Comparing GSM model retrievals of chl_gsm against simpler band-ratio chlorophyll algorithms for validation.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal trends in marine optical properties from the suite of geophysical variables.

Strengths

• Derived from ENVISAT MERIS satellite sensor, providing global spatial coverage.
• Retrieves three key geophysical variables (adg_443_gsm, bbp_443_gsm, chl_gsm) simultaneously from a single reflectance spectrum.
• Uses the GSM semi-analytical model, a physics-based alternative to simple empirical algorithms.

Limitations

• Data is not recent, with a last update date of May 2012, limiting contemporary analysis.
• Specific row count, file size, and temporal coverage range are unknown.
• The dataset's license terms are unspecified, which may restrict usage.

Provenance

Source

OB_CLOUD, utilizing data from the ENVISAT MERIS satellite.

Collection Method

Ocean-color fields derived by inverting water-leaving reflectance with the Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) semi-analytical model.

Freshness

Last updated on 2012-05-09.

Geography

Global