Sentinel-3B OLCI Level-3 Global Binned Remote-Sensing Reflectance (RRS) Data

Global satellite-derived remote-sensing reflectance data from the Sentinel-3B OLCI instrument, produced by the Ocean Biology DAAC. The dataset provides near real-time snapshots of water-leaving radiance ratios across multiple spectral bands, which serve as foundational inputs for retrieving oceanographic parameters. This activity was informed by the U.S. Government's Satellite Needs Working Group.

Use Cases

• Retrieving chlorophyll-a concentration (chlor_a) based on remote-sensing reflectance values.
• Estimating the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd_490) for water clarity based on spectral reflectance.
• Deriving inherent optical properties (IOPs) of water bodies based on multi-band reflectance data.
• Developing and validating new ocean color algorithms based on the foundational Rrs observable.
• Monitoring coastal and inland water quality based on reflectance signals in optically complex waters.

Strengths

• Provides near real-time (NRT) data products for timely analysis.
• Covers a global spatial scale.
• Includes per-file quality flags for land, cloud, sun glint, and high aerosol.

Limitations

• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The NRT processing uses less-than-optimal ancillary data and calibration compared to final products.

Provenance

Source

Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_CLOUD) via NASA Earthdata

Collection Method

Satellite observations from the Sentinel-3B OLCI instrument.

Freshness

Near real-time

Geography

Global