PACE OCI Level-3: Global Ocean Color Inherent Optical Properties (NRT)

Near real-time satellite data from NASA's PACE mission quantifies how seawater absorbs and scatters light globally. The Ocean Biology DAAC produces these Level-3 binned products using the Generalized Inherent Optical Properties model framework on spectral remote sensing reflectance. These products support water-type classification, clarity assessment, and biogeochemical studies.

Use Cases

• Classify global ocean water types based on inherent optical properties like absorption and backscattering coefficients.
• Assess water clarity and light penetration depth using the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd).
• Study phytoplankton dynamics by analyzing the phytoplankton absorption coefficient (aph).
• Model radiative transfer in marine environments using total absorption (a) and backscattering (bb) coefficients.
• Quantify uncertainty in ocean color retrievals using provided uncertainty estimates for key variables.

Strengths

• Provides per-pixel inherent optical properties derived from hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance.
• Includes uncertainty estimates for key variables like aph_unc_442 and bbp_unc_442.
• Offers near real-time data, providing a snapshot of ocean conditions within a short time period.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred from the science data file metadata.
• The inputs and calibration used for near real-time products are described as 'less than optimal' compared to final science products.

Provenance

Source

NASA Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_CLOUD)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the PACE OCI instrument, processed using the Generalized Inherent Optical Properties model.

Freshness

Near real-time

Geography

Global ocean