Suomi-NPP VIIRS Level-3 Global Binned Particulate Inorganic Carbon (PIC) - Near Real-time

Near real-time satellite data for global ocean particulate inorganic carbon (calcite) concentration. The Ocean Biology DAAC produces this product using the Balch & Gordon algorithm on Suomi-NPP VIIRS ocean-color reflectance. As a near real-time product, it uses the best-available ancillary data during a short time period within a single orbit.

Use Cases

• Detect and quantify coccolithophore blooms based on particulate inorganic carbon concentration.
• Assess carbonate cycling in the ocean based on calcite concentration data.
• Provide biogeochemical context alongside other ocean variables like chlor_a, Kd_490, PAR, and SST.
• Study optical backscatter in ocean waters based on particulate inorganic carbon retrievals.

Strengths

• Provides near real-time data, offering a snapshot of ocean conditions.
• Focuses on a specific geophysical variable (particulate inorganic carbon) relevant to marine biogeochemistry.
• Algorithm is explicitly named (Balch & Gordon), providing traceability.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Near real-time products use less-than-optimal ancillary data and calibration inputs.
• Uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal/inland waters or under high aerosol/glint conditions.

Provenance

Source

Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_CLOUD) via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Derived from Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite ocean-color reflectance using the Balch & Gordon algorithm.

Freshness

Near real-time (NRT).

Geography

Global ocean.