Great Lakes Radiometry and Biogeochemical Data for PACE Validation

PACE Radiometry and IOPs for Novel Great Lakes Science is a dataset from NASA's OB_DAAC, designed to support validation of the PACE OCI satellite. It contains high-density, in-situ measurements of optical properties and biogeochemical parameters across the Laurentian Great Lakes. Data collection spans a three-year period with monthly sampling to capture seasonal variability.

Use Cases

• Validating PACE OCI satellite-derived ocean color products using in-situ above-water radiometry (SVC HR-512i) and absorption data.
• Modeling harmful algal bloom dynamics by analyzing HPLC pigment concentrations and water quality sonde measurements.
• Studying seasonal biogeochemical cycles using data collected every month over three years, including DOC, POC, and SPM parameters.
• Analyzing spatial water quality gradients across lake basins (e.g., Lake Erie's western/central basins, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior).
• Investigating inherent optical properties (IOPs) like spectral absorption (ap, aph, aNAP, aCDOM) and hyperspectral backscattering.

Strengths

• Provides seasonal coverage with data collected in every month over a three-year period, addressing under-observed winter and shoulder seasons.
• Covers diverse optical and trophic conditions across multiple Great Lakes basins, from polluted to pristine systems.
• Includes a suite of coordinated measurements: radiometry, spectral absorption, backscattering, and discrete biogeochemical parameters.

Limitations

• Specific row count, file size, and complete column names are not provided by any source.
• Sources conflict on license details: one specifies 'other-license-specified', while another lists license as 'None'.
• The dataset's author is listed as unknown or None across all platforms.

Provenance

Source

NASA OB_DAAC

Collection Method

High-density sampling from coastal class vessels (25-70 ft), using instruments including SVC HR-512i radiometer, Sequoia hyper-bb, and YSI EXO2 sonde.

Time Range

Three-year period with monthly sampling.

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:52:18.669132

Geography

Laurentian Great Lakes, specifically Lake Erie's western and central basins, southwestern Lake Michigan and Green Bay, and the central basin and western arm of Lake Superior.