PACE OCI AVW: Global Mapped Apparent Visible Wavelength for Ocean Color

NASA's Ocean Biology DAAC produces this near real-time (NRT) Level-3 product quantifying the spectral center of ocean color. The Apparent Visible Wavelength (AVW) variable, reported in nanometers, summarizes the shape of water-leaving reflectance to indicate water type. This NRT version uses the best-available ancillary data but its inputs and calibration are described as less than optimal.

Use Cases

• Classifying water types (e.g., oligotrophic vs. productive) based on the apparent visible wavelength metric.
• Guiding algorithm selection or blending for chlorophyll-a retrievals based on spectral water characteristics.
• Detecting regional changes in ocean optical properties over time using the near real-time global maps.
• Providing context for other oceanographic variables like chlorophyll-a concentration (chlor_a) and diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd_490).

Strengths

• Provides a single, summarized geophysical variable (avw in nm) for global ocean analysis.
• Data is produced in a near real-time (NRT) mode, offering a snapshot from a short time period within a single orbit.
• Derived from NASA's PACE OCI instrument, indicating a space-based, standardized observation source.

Limitations

• The description states NRT products use 'less than optimal' inputs and calibration compared to standard science products.
• Row count, column details, and file formats are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• Interpretations can vary in optically complex coastal and inland waters, as noted in the description.

Provenance

Source

NASA Ocean Biology DAAC (OB.DAAC), organization OB_CLOUD.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the PACE OCI instrument, processed to Level-3 global mapped products.

Freshness

Near real-time (NRT).

Geography

Global.