The Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) model provides a physics-based alternative to simple chlorophyll algorithms by simultaneously retrieving multiple optical properties from water-leaving reflectance. This Level-4 binned dataset from the Terra MODIS satellite includes geophysical variables like absorption by gelbstoff and detrital material, particulate backscattering, and chlorophyll-a concentration. It is produced by OB_CLOUD and hosted on NASA's Earthdata platform.
Use Cases
- Modeling phytoplankton biomass dynamics based on retrieved chlorophyll-a concentration.
- Analyzing dissolved organic matter distribution based on absorption by gelbstoff and detrital material (adg_443_gsm).
- Studying water clarity and particle loads based on particulate backscattering coefficient (bbp_443_gsm).
- Validating semi-analytical ocean color algorithms against in-situ measurements.
Strengths
- Derived using the Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) semi-analytical model, which retrieves multiple optical properties simultaneously.
- Provides a more physics-based alternative to simple band-ratio chlorophyll algorithms, as stated in the description.
- Includes three specific geophysical variables with defined units: adg_443_gsm, bbp_443_gsm, and chl_gsm.
Limitations
- Row count, file formats, and sample data are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics beyond the three listed variables must be inferred after download.
- Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
Provenance
- Source
- OB_CLOUD, via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Derived by inverting water-leaving reflectance from the Terra MODIS satellite with the Garver-Siegel-Maritorena (GSM) model.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- Version 2022.0 is indicated in the title, but the last updated date is unknown.
- Geography
- Global, as indicated by 'Global Binned' in the title.