gov.noaa.nodc:CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2 eng utf8 series NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-03-19T14:31:52Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) 0 area -160 65 -60 65 -60 8 -160 8 center European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) Geodetic Parameter Registry 2008-11-12 publication European Petroleum Survey Group http://www.epsg-registry.org/ European Petroleum Survey Group Geodetic Parameter Dataset Registry that accesses the EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset, which is a structured dataset of Coordinate Reference Systems and Coordinate Transformations. search urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG:4326 6.18.3 NOAA CoastWatch Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Level 2 Data 1997-09-04 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2 NOAA CLASS gov.noaa.class:SW_L2 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher NESDIS CoastWatch Program originator NASA Earth Sciences Division originator NOAA CoastWatch author tableDigital NOAA CoastWatch produces near real-time ocean color products, e.g., chlorophyll-a concentration and turbidity (reflectance), with data from NASA's GeoEye's Orbview-2 satellite (via contractual purchase). The data is collected by selected HRPT ground stations. Each level 2 satellite specific product has unique characteristics dependent on the sensor and the algorithm applied.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. The purpose of SeaWiFS data is to examine oceanic factors that affect global change and to assess the oceans' role in the global carbon cycle, as well as other biogeochemical cycles, through a comprehensive research program. SeaWiFS data are being used to help clarify the magnitude and variability of chlorophyll and primary production by marine phytoplankton and to determine the distribution and timing of spring blooms, i.e., the time of highly abundant growth. ORBIMAGE/GeoEye and NASA completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2 Preview graphic PNG CHLOROPHYLL PIGMENTS turbidity WATER COLOR theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS SeaWiFS instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological optical physical satellite data theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS OrbView-2 platform NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS NOAA CoastWatch (CoastWatch) project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Bering Sea - Coastal Waters of Western Alaska Caribbean Sea Chukchi Sea - NW Coast of Alaska Coastal Waters of Hawaii Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia Coastal Waters of Western U.S. Great Lakes Gulf of Alaska Gulf of Mexico place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography satelliteObservation theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NODC > National Oceanographic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page 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 information custodian EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > CHLOROPHYLL EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > PIGMENTS EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > PIGMENTS > CHLOROPHYLL EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > OCEAN COLOR EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > TURBIDITY theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page 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 information custodian concentration_of_chlorophyll_in_sea_water theme NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention Standard Names SeaWiFS > Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page 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 information custodian OrbView-2 > Orbital Sciences Corporation OrbView-2 Satellite platform Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page 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 information custodian OrbView-2 (ICES code: 33QS, 1997-2010) platform ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CANADA > GREAT LAKES, CANADA CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > ALASKA CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GREAT LAKES OCEAN > ARCTIC OCEAN > CHUKCHI SEA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > CARIBBEAN SEA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > BERING SEA OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > GULF OF ALASKA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 23 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page 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 information custodian Eastern Tropical Pacific Full Region NE Full Region NEEX Full Region North Alaska Full Region SE Full Region SEEX Full Region Sitka Full Region South Alaska Full Region West Alaska Full Region West Coast Kirk Waters Region NCEP Region place Originator Place Names 1.1 km dataResolution Spatial Resolution Level 2 product Processing Level accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: NOAA CoastWatch (1997). NOAA CoastWatch Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Level 2 Data. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2. Accessed [date]. 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. otherRestrictions 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. Publications of research results utilizing these data must acknowledge the SeaWiFS Project and the Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA. SeaWiFS Project 2016 publication https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/ HTTPS https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/ historical web site information NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) publisher [accessed 2019-11-30] crossReference project NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group. (2018). SEAWIFS-ORBVIEW-2 Level 2 Ocean Color Data Version R2018.0 [Data set]. NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l2/oc/2018 2018 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l2/oc/2018 https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l2/oc/2018 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.5067/orbview-2/seawifs/l2/oc/2018 OceanColor WEB: SeaWiFS Data information NASA Ocean Biology Processing Group author NASA Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center publisher tableDigital crossReference collection eng; USA utf8 environment oceans climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere -160 -60 8 65 1998-04-12 2010-12-10 File name formats are- HDF with algorithm: SourceYearDayStart-Time.Data-Type_Station-Code_Algorithm-Code.File-Format HDF: SourceYearDayStart-Time.Data-Type_Station-Code.File-Format Full Image with algorithm: SourceYearDayStart-Time_Product-CodeMask_RegionStation-CodeAlgorithm-Code.File-Format Full Image: SourceYearDayStart-Time_Product-CodeMask_RegionStation-Code.File-Format Thumbnail Image with algorithm: Image-TypeSourceYearDayStart-Time_Product-CodeMask_RegionStation-CodeAlgorithm-Code.File-Format Thumbnail Image: Image-TypeSourceYearDayStart-Time_Product-CodeMask_RegionStation-Code.File-Format NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact 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. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. HDF4 https://www.class.noaa.gov/saa/products/search?sub_id=0&datatype_family=OC_NOVIIRS HTTP Web browser Order 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. order https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information FGDC Attribute Accuracy Report Ocean Color values are accurate to within 10 percent. NOAA CoastWatch performs validation of the data through buoy match-ups or other in situ measurements for adjusting processing algorithms as necessary. Chlorophyll values (.001 - 64.767 micrograms per liter) in GeoTIFFs are scaled to 1 to 100.The current turbidity product is the remote sensing reflectance for band 5 (555 nm). It provides a good measure of turbidity related to sediment over a range of water clarity and provides a measure of the sediment load in the water. (In oceanography, turbidity is a catch-all term for poor water clarity or visibility. Visibility, as measured with a Secchi disk, is influenced by absorption, but driven mostly by the sediment load. To confuse this issue, water clarity is based on the diffuse light attenuation, which is strongly influenced by absorption as well as scattering, and efforts are being made to determine attenuation coefficients for SeaWiFS.) Chlorophyll-related pigments have little influence on the reflectance at 555 nm. Because of the low absorption by water, band 5 is extremely sensitive to changes in sediment concentration. (Certain phytoplankton groups, such as coccolithophores, are highly scattering, so they produce strong signals in this band). Under extremely high pigment loads (especially dissolved pigments and detrital, non-algal, pigments), band 5 is less effective, because the absorption is a significant part of the signal, potential causing a reduction in the reflectance. Because of the low absorption by water, band 5 can "see" the bottom in relatively clear water. In very clear water, it can detect sand bottom in 20-30 m. In areas where turbidity events are common, the bottom signal would be the minimum reflectance observable. SeaWiFS band 6 (670 nm) is less sensitive to dissolved and detrital pigments, and does not detect the bottom in more than ~6 m, but does not provide the sensitivity of band 5 for clearer water. FGDC Logical Consistency Report Research and monitoring programs are generally interested in the live phytoplankton biomass and the suspended sediment concentration. The chlorophyll algorithms for SeaWiFS provide a relationship between SeaWiFS bands and standard measurements of chlorophyll for live phytoplankton biomass. For sediment concentrations, a measure of scatter provides the best information. At present, experimental backscattering algorithms exist, additional work needs to be done to validate these algorithms. As an alternative, using the remote sensing reflectance for bands that are most sensitive to scatter (and least sensitive to absorption), provides the best characterization of suspended sediments. Trials have been made of algorithms that determine backscatter. Ultimately, the calculated backscatter will be the best method of describing turbidity. Several factors determine water clarity: absorption due to live phytoplankton, absorption due to dissolved pigments, absorption due to detrital pigments, and scattering due to particulates (mostly inorganic sediments). FGDC Completeness Report tbd FGDC Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report Ocean Color products are generally within 1000 meters. FGDC Vertical Positional Accuracy Report dataset gov.noaa.class:SW_L2 NOAA obtains Level 1a data from GeoEye (formerly ORBIMAGE) and processes the data to Level 2 ocean products using NASA SeaDAS and NOAA algorithms. These products are then mapped to the CoastWatch West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Northeast, Caribbean, and Southeast geographic regions. Heng Gu DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Senior Programmer/Analyst (301) 763-8209 x 347 5200 Auth Rd Rm 601 Camp Springs MD 20746 Heng.Gu@noaa.gov processor NOAA Ocean Color Validation Homepage 2001-05-11 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/CWP > CoastWatch Program, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce http://coastwatch.noaa.gov/validation/index.html http web browser NOAA Ocean Color Validation Homepage Information about the accuracy of operational products generated by NOAA/NESDIS from satellite ocean color data. There are links from this page to algorithms. information publisher Information about the accuracy of operational products generated by NOAA/NESDIS from satellite ocean color data. There are links from this page to algorithms. SeaWiFS Level 1a data from which the Ocean Color Products are derived. Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 1A Data 1997-09-01 publication NASA/GSFC/EOS > Earth Observing System, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA originator GeoEye (formerly ORBIMAGE, Inc) originator The resulting Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 2 Data. Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 2 Data 1997-09-04 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/CWP > CoastWatch Program, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce 301.763.8184 NOAA CoastWatch 5200 Auth Road, Rm 601 Camp Springs MD 20746 USA coastwatch.info@noaa.gov originator 1997-09-04 repository NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015. 2015-04-22T00:00:00 asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian SeaWiFS SeaWiFS Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor The purpose of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project is to provide quantitative data on global ocean bio-optical properties to the Earth science community. Subtle changes in ocean color signify various types and quantities of marine phytoplankton (microscopic marine plants), the knowledge of which has both scientific and practical applications. The SeaWiFS Project will develop and operate a research data system that will process, calibrate, validate, archive and distribute data received from an Earth-orbiting ocean color sensor. The SeaStar spacecraft, developed by OSC, carries the SeaWiFS instrument and was launched to low Earth orbit on board an extended Pegasus launch vehicle on August 1, 1997. The SeaWiFS instrument will be the only scientific payload on the SeaStar spacecraft. OSC has the sole responsibility for the development, launch, and command and control of the satellite. The development of the SeaWiFS instrument was subcontracted to Hughes/SBRC, but OSC maintains ultimate responsibility for the instrument. The SeaWiFS instrument consists of an optical scanner and an electronics module. (From: http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/BACKGROUND/SEAWIFS_BACKGROUND.html) OrbView-2 Updated information from ICES for the platform OrbView-2 from UNITED STATES. Name OrbView-2 Country(s) US: UNITED STATES Platform Class 65: Orbiting satellite Commissioned Date 1997 Decommissioned Date 2010 Notes - OIC USA Ocean Imaging satellite. Formerly known as SeaStar. Previous Name SeaStar Information Source (URL) - http://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/395 Confirmed by NOAA on 2018-08-08. OTHER INFORMATION: https://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/395 Launched in 1997, OrbView-2 (originally named SeaStar) was the first commercial satellite to provide daily color images of the Earth. Under a unique arrangement with NASA, Orbital designed and built the OrbView-2 satellite, integrating its SeaWiFS sensor. Upon its successful launch, operations of the satellite were handed over to ORBIMAGE (now known as GeoEye) which manages the spacecraft and distributes its data for commercial use. Under a data buy arrangement, NASA procured OrbView-2 SeaWiFS data for scientific research from 1997 through 2004.