Terra MODIS Level-3 Global Binned Fluorescence Line Height (FLH) - Near Real-time (NRT) Da

Global satellite data from NASA's Terra MODIS instrument measuring phytoplankton chlorophyll fluorescence. The Ocean Biology DAAC produces this near real-time (NRT) product using the best-available ancillary meteorological and ozone data. It provides a snapshot of data from a short time period within a single orbit.

Use Cases

• Detecting and tracking harmful algal blooms (HABs) based on elevated Normalized Fluorescence Line Height (nflh) values.
• Identifying productive ocean waters based on chlorophyll-a fluorescence measurements.
• Assessing phytoplankton physiology based on fluorescence line height data.
• Studying ocean color and bio-optical properties based on satellite-derived radiance data.

Strengths

• Provides near real-time (NRT) data, offering a timely snapshot of ocean conditions.
• Includes two geophysical variables: Normalized Fluorescence Line Height (nflh) and Instantaneous Photosynthetically Available Radiation (ipar).
• Data is produced by the NASA Ocean Biology DAAC, a recognized authority for ocean color data.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The description notes uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal and inland waters.

Provenance

Source

NASA Ocean Biology DAAC (OB_CLOUD).

Collection Method

Derived from NASA's Terra MODIS satellite instrument.

Freshness

Near real-time (NRT); version 2022.0.

Geography

Global.