NOAA CoastWatch Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Level 1A Data
This dataset consists of satellite measurements of global and regional ocean color data obtained by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), in orbit on the OrbView-2 (formerly SeaStar) platform. The concentration and predominant identity of substances and particles in the euphotic (lighted) zone of the upper ocean influences the apparent color of the ocean, which can range from deep blue to varying shades of green and ruddy brown. Living phytoplankton (which contain chlorophyll and associated photosynthetic pigments), inorganic sediments, detritus (particulate organic matter) and dissolved organic matter all contribute to the color of the ocean. SeaWiFS acquires approximately 15 pole-to-pole orbital swaths of data per day, and approximately 90% of the ocean surface is scanned every two days. The file's content consists of raw radiance counts from eight bands (six in visible and two in near infrared spectrum), calibration data, navigation data, instrument telemetry and selected spacecraft telemetry. While level 2 historic data is open to the public, level 1 data is restricted to users covered by SeaWiFS CoastWatch contract due to limitations associated with commercial data. The OrbView-2 spacecraft, which carried the SeaWiFS instrument, stopped communicating with Earth-based data stations in December 2010. After several months of attempts to revive the link, GeoEye, the company that operated the spacecraft, officially ended any further attempts at recovery.
Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | non-public |
| contactPoint |
{
"fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
"@type": "vcard:Contact",
"hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov"
}
|
| describedByType | application/octet-steam |
| description | This dataset consists of satellite measurements of global and regional ocean color data obtained by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), in orbit on the OrbView-2 (formerly SeaStar) platform. The concentration and predominant identity of substances and particles in the euphotic (lighted) zone of the upper ocean influences the apparent color of the ocean, which can range from deep blue to varying shades of green and ruddy brown. Living phytoplankton (which contain chlorophyll and associated photosynthetic pigments), inorganic sediments, detritus (particulate organic matter) and dissolved organic matter all contribute to the color of the ocean. SeaWiFS acquires approximately 15 pole-to-pole orbital swaths of data per day, and approximately 90% of the ocean surface is scanned every two days. The file's content consists of raw radiance counts from eight bands (six in visible and two in near infrared spectrum), calibration data, navigation data, instrument telemetry and selected spacecraft telemetry. While level 2 historic data is open to the public, level 1 data is restricted to users covered by SeaWiFS CoastWatch contract due to limitations associated with commercial data. The OrbView-2 spacecraft, which carried the SeaWiFS instrument, stopped communicating with Earth-based data stations in December 2010. After several months of attempts to revive the link, GeoEye, the company that operated the spacecraft, officially ended any further attempts at recovery. |
| distribution |
[
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "Order",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "These data are available through NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS). Use the CLASS web interface to search for and order data by temporal, spatial and and other product-specific criteria. You may also create a subscription to order data on a regular basis.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.class.noaa.gov/saa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=OC_NOVIIRS",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NCEI Dataset Landing Page",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L1A",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "historical web site",
"downloadURL": "https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l1/data/1",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "OceanColor WEB: SeaWiFS Data",
"downloadURL": "https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l1/data/1",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
"downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
},
{
"@type": "dcat:Distribution",
"title": "NCEI Contact Information",
"mediaType": "placeholder/value",
"description": "Information for contacts at NCEI.",
"downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact",
"describedByType": "application/octet-steam"
}
]
|
| identifier | gov.noaa.nodc:CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L1A |
| issued | 1997-09-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| keyword |
[
"OPTICAL",
"WATER COLOR",
"SeaWiFS",
"optical",
"physical",
"satellite data",
"OrbView-2",
"NOAA CoastWatch (CoastWatch)",
"World-Wide Distribution",
"oceanography",
"satelliteObservation",
"DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NODC > National Oceanographic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
"EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS",
"EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > ABSORPTION",
"EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > OCEAN COLOR",
"EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > INFRARED WAVELENGTHS > INFRARED RADIANCE",
"EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > INFRARED WAVELENGTHS > SENSOR COUNTS",
"EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > SENSOR COUNTS",
"EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > VISIBLE RADIANCE",
"SeaWiFS > Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor",
"OrbView-2 > Orbital Sciences Corporation OrbView-2 Satellite",
"OrbView-2 (ICES code: 33QS, 1997-2010)",
"CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA",
"GEOGRAPHIC REGION > GLOBAL OCEAN",
"U.S. Coast",
"1.1 km",
"Level 1a"
]
|
| landingPage | https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact |
| language |
[]
|
| license | https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ |
| modified | 1997-09-01T00:00:00.000+00:00 |
| publisher |
{
"name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
"@type": "org:Organization"
}
|
| references |
[
"https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/",
"https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l1/data/1"
]
|
| rights | otherRestrictions |
| spatial | -60.0,8.0,-160.0,65.0 |
| temporal | 2004-10-28T00:00:00+00:00/2010-12-11T00:00:00+00:00 |
| title | NOAA CoastWatch Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Level 1A Data |
