NOBM: NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model with Satellite Chlorophyll Data, Global Monthly

NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) monthly assimilated data provides a global view of ocean chemistry and biology. The model, developed by NASA, integrates satellite chlorophyll observations and spans open ocean areas from -84 to 72 degrees latitude. It simulates four phytoplankton groups, nutrients, herbivores, detritus, and dissolved organic and inorganic carbon.

Use Cases

• Modeling global ocean carbon cycles based on simulated dissolved organic and inorganic carbon components.
• Analyzing phytoplankton group distributions and interactions based on the four modeled groups.
• Studying nutrient dynamics in open ocean areas based on the four nutrient groups.
• Validating satellite-derived ocean color products using assimilated chlorophyll data.
• Investigating ocean ecosystem responses to climate change using the coupled biogeochemical and circulation model.

Strengths

• Model assimilates satellite chlorophyll data, likely improving realism.
• Covers a specific global domain from -84 to 72 degrees latitude in 1.25° longitude by 2/3° latitude increments.
• Represents complex ocean processes with 4 phytoplankton groups, 4 nutrient groups, and carbon components.
• Focuses on open ocean areas with bottom depth greater than 200 meters.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect modeling and assimilation biases inherent to the NOBM approach.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Output from the NASA Ocean Biogeochemical Model (NOBM) assimilating satellite data.

Time Range

Monthly time series (specific years not stated).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:29:18.189243; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global oceans, open ocean areas where bottom depth >200m, from -84 to 72 degrees latitude.