SeaWiFS Satellite Imagery for SAFARI 2000 Core Sites

Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) imagery covers eight core study sites in southern Africa for the SAFARI 2000 project. The dataset includes Level-1 and Level-2 local area coverage (LAC) image subsets, selected for clarity and minimal cloud cover, with data collected in 8 spectral bands from 402 nm to 885 nm. Provided by NASA and managed by ORNL DAAC, the primary data collection period spans 2000-2001.

Use Cases

• Atmospheric aerosol studies using the Level-2 radiance data from the 8 spectral bands.
• Land cover classification and change detection for sites like Skukuza and Mongu using the 1.1 km resolution LAC imagery.
• Validation of ocean color algorithms using the near-coastal site imagery (e.g., Nampula).
• Analysis of regional haze events using the included 'hazy day' contrast imagery.

Strengths

• Imagery is curated for quality, selected from a large collection based on image clarity and lack of clouds.
• Provides data at two spatial resolutions: high-resolution local area coverage (LAC) at 1.1 km and global area coverage (GAC) at 4.5 km.
• Includes multispectral data across 8 distinct wavelength bands, enabling detailed spectral analysis.
• Covers eight distinct geographic sites, offering regional context for the SAFARI 2000 campaign.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column/feature names are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (2001 vs. 2026), suggesting potential metadata inconsistencies.
• The dataset is historical, with primary collection ending in 2001, limiting analysis of recent conditions.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SeaWiFS sensor.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data collected by the SeaWiFS sensor, processed into Level-1 and Level-2 products, and subset for specific study sites.

Time Range

2000-2001

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:15:53.432940

Geography

Eight core study sites in southern Africa: Mongu, Etosha, Kasangu, Skukuza, Mutoko, Mzola, Nampula, and Ndola.