Suomi-NPP VIIRS: Global Ocean Color Apparent Visible Wavelength Data

Global satellite-derived ocean color data quantifying the spectral center of water-leaving reflectance. The dataset likely contains the Apparent Visible Wavelength (AVW) variable, reported in nanometers, which indicates water clarity and composition. It originates from the Suomi-NPP satellite's VIIRS instrument and is processed by OB_CLOUD.

Use Cases

• Classifying water types based on the apparent visible wavelength metric.
• Selecting or blending chlorophyll retrieval algorithms guided by the AVW value.
• Detecting regional changes in ocean optical properties over time.
• Providing context alongside other ocean-color products like chlor_a and Kd_490.

Strengths

• Provides a specific geophysical variable (avw) for quantifying ocean spectral properties.
• Designed for global coverage, enabling worldwide oceanographic studies.

Limitations

• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Interpretations can vary in optically complex coastal and inland waters, as noted in the description.

Provenance

Source

OB_CLOUD

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the Suomi-NPP VIIRS instrument.

Geography

Global