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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

VIIRS Ocean Color Science Quality Mission-long Reprocessed Environmental Data Records (EDR) Level-3 global products from January 2012 to the present minus 15 days

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This dataset contains Ocean Color (OC) Science Quality Environmental Data Records (EDR) Level-3 products from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. Level-3 EDR data are produced by NOAA CoastWatch/OceanWatch (CW) from Level-2 products. The Level-2 OC EDR are produced by NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) OC team using the Multi-Sensor Level-1 to Level-2 (MSL12) ocean color data processing system. Science quality OC EDR are produced using the significantly improved VIIRS Sensor Data Records (SDR or Level-1B data), which are generated by the OC team (named OC-SDR) using both the solar and lunar approaches, and assimilated ancillary input data (as opposed to model predicted data used in near-real time data production). MSL12 and the OC-SDR calibration improvements were developed by the STAR OC team [Wang et al., 2013; Sun and Wang, 2015; Wang et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2017].

The Science Quality Level-2 VIIRS OC EDR are produced daily on a delayed mode (present day minus 15 days) with global spatial coverage. In addition to this forward stream processing, a consistent, full-mission dataset was generated with the same processing covering the time period from the first post-launch useable data in January 2012 to present day minus 15 days and also with global spatial coverage. The CW Level-3 processing uses MSL12 version 1.2 Level-2 (the swath or granule data) as input to produce global mapped 4 km spatial resolution, daily, weekly and monthly time binned (averaged) output data product files in NetCDF format. These CW Level-3 products include the following parameters: normalized water-leaving radiances for 6 VIIRS visible bands (i.e., bands M1-M5 at 410 nm, 443 nm; 486 nm; 551 nm; 671 nm respectively and band I1 at 638 nm), chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), the diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (Kd(490)), and the diffuse attenuation coefficient for photosynthetically available radiation (Kd(PAR)).

Note that the MSL12 is the NOAA enterprise processing system for all OC data (from multiple sensors and/or satellite missions) which has replaced the Integrated Data Processing Segment (IDPS) from the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program for VIIRS data.

These Level-3 records are a primary source of information for numerous regional and global marine resource stewardship efforts and are used in applications in support of the NOAA mission and other applications such as fish stock assessments, local habitat characterization, phytoplankton pigment concentration and whale distribution, weather predictions and forecasting, as well as basic physical and biological oceanographic studies of our changing ocean environments.

For additional information about OC data, other data formats and a variety of search tools, visit CoastWatch.NOAA.gov.
  • Cite as: NOAA STAR Ocean Color Science Team (2017). VIIRS Ocean Color Science Quality Mission-long Reprocessed Environmental Data Records (EDR) Level-3 global products from January 2012 to the present minus 15 days. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/STAR-VIIRS-OCR-L3. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:STAR-VIIRS-OCR-L3
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  • THREDDS (download)
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Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: netCDF-4)
    • File Specification: CF-1.6, Unidata Dataset Discovery v1.0
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2012-01-02 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -80
North: 90
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NOAA CoastWatch / OceanWatch Ocean Color - Science Quality - VIIRS SNPP
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2017-08-07
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose To provide high-quality global ocean color products in support of science research and operational applications.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: NOAA STAR Ocean Color Science Team (2017). VIIRS Ocean Color Science Quality Mission-long Reprocessed Environmental Data Records (EDR) Level-3 global products from January 2012 to the present minus 15 days. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/STAR-VIIRS-OCR-L3. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • NOAA STAR Ocean Color Science Team
Originators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: NOAA STAR Ocean Color Science Team (2017). VIIRS Ocean Color Science Quality Mission-long Reprocessed Environmental Data Records (EDR) Level-3 global products from January 2012 to the present minus 15 days. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/STAR-VIIRS-OCR-L3. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • VIIRS
Platform
  • SNPP
Last Modified: 2023-11-15T16:33:43Z
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