Terra MODIS Apparent Visible Wavelength for Global Ocean Color Analysis

Version 2022.0 of the Terra MODIS Level-4 global mapped Apparent Visible Wavelength (AVW) data. The dataset quantifies the spectral center of water-leaving reflectance in nanometers, produced by the OB_CLOUD organization. It is used for classifying water types and guiding chlorophyll retrieval algorithms.

Use Cases

• Classifying ocean water types based on the apparent visible wavelength metric.
• Guiding the selection or blending of chlorophyll-a retrieval algorithms based on spectral water characteristics.
• Detecting regional changes in ocean optical properties over time.
• Providing contextual analysis alongside other ocean-color variables like chlor_a and Kd_490.

Strengths

• Derived from the Terra MODIS satellite sensor, a long-standing Earth observation platform.
• Provides a single, globally mapped geophysical variable (avw) for ocean color analysis.
• The description specifies a clear physical unit (nanometers) and interpretation for the primary variable.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and column-level documentation are unknown.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Interpretations of the AVW metric can vary in optically complex coastal and inland waters, as noted in the description.

Provenance

Source

NASA Earthdata (nasa_earthdata) platform, from the OB_CLOUD organization.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the Terra MODIS instrument, processed to Level-4 (mapped) product.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Version 2022.0 is specified, but the last update date is unknown.

Geography

Global ocean coverage.