Sentinel-3A OLCI Level-3 Global Mapped Remote Sensing Reflectance Data

Version 2022.0 of the Sentinel-3A OLCI Level-3 dataset provides global mapped remote sensing reflectance (RRS) data. The RRS suite, produced by OB_CLOUD, measures the ratio of water-leaving radiance to downwelling irradiance and serves as a foundational observable for retrieving oceanographic products.

Use Cases

• Retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration (chlor_a) based on remote sensing reflectance values.
• Calculating the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd_490) for water clarity based on reflectance data.
• Deriving inherent optical properties (IOPs) of water bodies based on spectral reflectance.
• Developing and validating satellite ocean color algorithms based on the foundational RRS observable.
• Monitoring water quality in coastal and inland waters based on flagged reflectance data.

Strengths

• Provides the foundational observable (Rrs_λ) for retrieving multiple oceanographic products.
• Includes per-file quality flags for conditions like land, cloud, sun glint, and high aerosol.
• Activity was informed by the interagency Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic or temporal bias inherent to nasa_earthdata.

Provenance

Source

OB_CLOUD

Collection Method

Satellite observation from the Sentinel-3A OLCI instrument.

Geography

Global