Global SeaWiFS Remote-Sensing Reflectance Data for Ocean Color Analysis

OrbView-2 SeaWiFS Level-3 data provides global mapped remote-sensing reflectance (RRS) values, the foundational observable for deriving ocean color products. The dataset, processed to version 2022.0 by OB_CLOUD, consists of multi-spectral bands like Rrs_412 and Rrs_443. The final data update from the mission was recorded on December 11, 2010.

Use Cases

• Retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration (chlor_a) from Rrs_443 and Rrs_555 band ratios for phytoplankton biomass estimation.
• Calculating the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance (Kd_490) using Rrs_490 to model light penetration in water.
• Estimating inherent optical properties (IOPs) like absorption and backscattering from multi-spectral Rrs_λ bands for biogeochemical studies.
• Assessing water quality in coastal zones by analyzing Rrs_412 and Rrs_670 responses to suspended sediments and colored dissolved organic matter.
• Applying per-pixel quality flags for land, cloud, and sun glint to filter Rrs data for validation campaigns in optically complex waters.

Strengths

• Provides the foundational Rrs_λ observable for a standard suite of derived ocean color products.
• Includes per-file quality flags for land, cloud, sun glint, and high aerosol to support data filtering.
• Global mapped Level-3 data facilitates large-scale spatial analysis of marine optical properties.

Limitations

• Data collection ended in 2010, limiting analysis to historical conditions before that date.
• Performance in optically complex coastal and inland waters requires careful review of mission documentation and flags.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and spatial/temporal resolution details are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) on the OrbView-2 satellite, hosted by OB_CLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing measurements processed to Level-3 global mapped remote-sensing reflectance (RRS).

Time Range

Mission operational period through December 2010.

Freshness

Final mission data update was 2010-12-11; the 2022.0 refers to a reprocessed data version.

Geography

Global ocean coverage.