OrbView-2 SeaWiFS: Global Ocean Inherent Optical Properties, 2022.0

A 2022.0 reprocessed dataset from the OrbView-2 SeaWiFS satellite provides per-pixel inherent optical properties (IOPs) of global seawater. The data, produced by OB_CLOUD using the Generalized Inherent Optical Properties (GIOP) model, includes total absorption and backscattering coefficients, phytoplankton absorption, and related uncertainty estimates. It supports water-type classification, clarity assessment, and biogeochemical studies.

Use Cases

• Classifying global water types based on per-pixel inherent optical properties.
• Assessing water clarity and turbidity using total absorption and backscattering coefficients.
• Studying phytoplankton biomass and distribution via the phytoplankton absorption coefficient at 443 nm.
• Conducting biogeochemical modeling using coefficients for CDOM, detritus, and particulate backscattering.
• Performing cross-sensor comparisons for satellite ocean color data using the IOP framework.

Strengths

• Provides per-pixel geophysical variables including total absorption (a) and total backscattering (bb) coefficients.
• Includes uncertainty estimates for key variables like aph_unc_443 and bbp_unc_443.
• Derived using a standardized model framework (GIOP) for consistent retrieval.

Limitations

• Last updated 2010-12-11 23:59:59; freshness should be verified.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Row count and specific file formats are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

OB_CLOUD, via NASA's Earthdata platform.

Collection Method

Retrieved from spectral Remote Sensing Reflectance (Rrs) using the Generalized Inherent Optical Properties (GIOP) model framework applied to OrbView-2 SeaWiFS Level-2 data.

Freshness

Dataset version is 2022.0, but the last update timestamp is 2010-12-11.

Geography

Global Area Coverage (GAC).