SNPP VIIRS Satellite Data: Daily Chlorophyll-a Concentration via OC3 Model

VIIRS sensor data from the SNPP satellite platform measures sunlight reflected from the ocean surface to infer chlorophyll-a concentration, primarily from phytoplankton. These daily observations use the OC3 retrieval algorithm recommended by NASA's Ocean Biology Processing Group. The data is provided by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated on 2026-07-13.

Use Cases

• Monitor phytoplankton biomass dynamics based on satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentration.
• Model ocean primary productivity based on inferred chlorophyll-a levels.
• Track algal bloom events and their spatial extent based on multi-spectral satellite measurements.
• Validate and calibrate ocean color models based on the OC3 algorithm implementation.

Strengths

• Data uses the OC3 algorithm recommended by NASA's Ocean Biology Processing Group.
• Derived from the VIIRS sensor on the SNPP satellite platform, a known data source.
• Last updated on 2026-07-13 20:03:55.057768, indicating recent maintenance.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic or temporal bias inherent to the satellite's coverage and the data_gov_au source.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the VIIRS sensor on the SNPP platform, processed with the SeaDAS l2gen software using the OC3 algorithm.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-13 20:03:55.057768; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Likely covers ocean areas observed by the SNPP satellite, but specific spatial coverage is not stated.