Monthly averages and overall average (2005-2009) of the light attenuation coefficient in t

GeoTiff raster data from the MERIS satellite measures the coefficient of light attenuation for photosynthetically active radiation in the Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas. Monthly and annual averages from 2005 to 2009 are provided at a 250-meter cell resolution. Values are dimensionless, ranging from 0 (clear water) to 1 (very turbid), indicating light penetration levels.

Use Cases

• Modeling primary productivity based on light availability in the water column.
• Mapping seabed habitats using light penetration estimates derived from satellite data.
• Analyzing seasonal and inter-annual variability in water turbidity for the 2005-2009 period.
• Calibrating or validating hydrodynamic or ecological models with spatially explicit KPAR data.

Strengths

• Data is derived from the MERIS satellite, a recognized remote sensing instrument.
• Provides both monthly and a 5-year annual average for temporal analysis.
• High spatial resolution of 250 meters per raster cell.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to the 2005-2009 observation period.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Collection Method

Collected by the MERIS satellite and processed as described in the cited publication.

Time Range

2005-2009

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-14 09:47:48.498184; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas