Global Daily Ocean Colored Dissolved Organic Matter Maps

Daily global maps of colored dissolved organic matter concentration in ocean surface waters, measured in inverse meters (m⁻¹). The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) produces this data from the SGLI sensor onboard the GCOM-C satellite, which launched in December 2017. Level 3 products provide statistically processed, map-projected averages and quality flags at a 1/24-degree spatial resolution.

Use Cases

• Modeling coastal carbon flux by analyzing the average (AVE) colored dissolved organic matter concentration across ocean basins.
• Assessing data reliability for climate studies by filtering records using the provided quality flag (QA_flag).
• Tracking seasonal changes in marine dissolved organic carbon using the daily and 8-day statistical time series.
• Calibrating regional ocean color algorithms by comparing the 1/24-degree resolution EQR-projected maps with in-situ measurements.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage generated for each statistical period.
• Data available at daily, 8-day, and monthly temporal resolutions for time-series analysis.
• Provides two key data layers: the average value (AVE) and a quality flag (QA_flag) for reliability assessment.
• Spatial resolution of approximately 1/24 degree enables regional-scale oceanographic studies.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and exact temporal coverage are not provided in the description.
• As a Level 3 product, it represents statistically processed data, not raw sensor measurements.
• Product version (V3) is noted, but the description does not detail changes from the previous V2, requiring user investigation.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Derived from Level 1B and Level 2 products from the SGLI sensor onboard the GCOM-C satellite, statistically processed in time and space.

Time Range

Coverage from at least the satellite's operational start in December 2017 onward.

Freshness

Daily product generation; satellite has been operational since its 2017 launch.

Geography

Global ocean coverage.