NOAA-20 VIIRS: Global Particulate Inorganic Carbon (PIC) Near Real-time Data

NASA's Ocean Biology DAAC produces near real-time (NRT) Level-3 global mapped data for Particulate Inorganic Carbon (PIC). The data is derived from NOAA-20 VIIRS satellite ocean-color reflectance using the Balch & Gordon algorithm. It provides a snapshot of calcite concentration, typically from coccolithophores, for detecting blooms and assessing carbonate cycling.

Use Cases

• Detect and quantify coccolithophore blooms based on PIC concentration.
• Assess marine carbonate cycling and optical backscatter based on calcite measurements.
• Provide biogeochemical context alongside other ocean variables like chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature.

Strengths

• Data is produced in near real-time, providing a snapshot from a single orbit.
• Algorithm is specifically designed for retrieving calcite concentration from ocean-color reflectance.
• Data suite is intended for use alongside other key ocean variables like chlor_a and SST.

Limitations

• Inputs and calibration for the NRT product are described as 'less than optimal'.
• Uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal/inland waters or under high aerosol/glint.
• Column-level documentation and sample data are unavailable, limiting pre-download assessment.

Provenance

Source

NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC), organization OB_CLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the NOAA-20 VIIRS instrument, processed with the Balch & Gordon algorithm.

Freshness

Near real-time (NRT); specific last update date is unknown.

Geography

Global ocean.