PACE-PAX: Ocean Optics and Phytoplankton Data for Satellite Validation

PACE-PAX was a multi-platform field campaign in September 2024 across Southern and Central California coastal waters. Its oceanographic data, archived in the SeaBASS repository, supports validation of the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite mission. The dataset is organized into four distinct research cruises, each focusing on optical, biogeochemical, and phytoplankton measurements.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived ocean color products based on in-situ optical measurements.
• Calibrating vicarious calibration systems (e.g., HyperNAV) for the PACE mission using field campaign data.
• Studying phytoplankton community composition and biogeochemistry in California coastal ecosystems.
• Assessing aerosol and cloud impacts on ocean remote sensing signals from coordinated aircraft and ship data.

Strengths

• Data originates from a coordinated, multi-platform NASA field campaign (aircraft, ships, autonomous instruments) designed for rigorous satellite validation.
• Structured archival across three authoritative repositories (SeaBASS, NASA ASDC/AIR-LARC, AERONET-MAN) ensures long-term preservation and accessibility.
• The dataset is split into four defined cruises, providing a clear organizational structure for different regional and thematic focuses.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, specific column names, and file sizes are not provided in any source, limiting initial assessment of data volume and structure.
• Sources provide slightly conflicting information on the specific aircraft data repository (NASA AIR-LARC vs. NASA ASDC).
• The dataset's temporal coverage is limited to a single month (September 2024), which may not capture seasonal variability.

Provenance

Source

NASA PACE-PAX field campaign, archived via the SeaBASS repository and other NASA data centers.

Collection Method

Field measurements collected from research vessels (R/V Shearwater, R/V Blissfully), aircraft (ER-2, CIRPAS Twin Otter), and autonomous instruments.

Time Range

September 2024

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:37:48.493250

Geography

Southern and Central California and nearby coastal regions.