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SeaWiFS Instrument Data:
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(January 1998 El Niño) (Warning, full image is 1.4 MB) |
(December 1998 La Niña) (Warning, full image is 1.4 MB) |
Comparison Images.
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SeaWiFS Monthly Mean Products Common and Chlorophyll files (See also TOPEX/Poseidon Monthly Mean Global Surface Ocean Variables) |
S19980011998031.L3b_MO |
Jan. 1998
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After a successful launch on August 1, 1997, using the Hercules Pegasus small air-launched booster dropped at 38,000 feet from a modified L-1011 (See Aviation Week & Space Technology, June 6, 1988, p. 14-16 & September 3, 1990, S1-S10), the SeaWiFS instrument began science operations on September 18, 1997.
SeaWiFS data and products are available to all users for educational and research purposes, at no more than the cost of dissemination. Commercial users must make individual arrangements with Orbital Imaging Corporation (ORBIMAGE) of Dulles, VA, for data access and costs.
SeaWiFS data have recorded an explosion in phytoplankton growth around the Galapagos Islands as warm El Niño waters were replaced by deep cold upwelled waters at the start of the La Niña in May 1998. This sea change was recorded 1 month before other indications of the start of the La Niña.
Table showing data processing levels
Sample Information
The EOSDIS Data Sampler #3 provides as a sample dataset on the CD-ROM 2 files for each of 2 L3 granules of the SeaWiFS Level 3 Monthly Mean Science Product. The 2 files are the "main" file and the "07" or the chlorophyll file. The complete granules (all 13 files) are on the Web site for this CD-ROM.
The averaging intervals for the L3 standard products of binned files of global data are as follows:
The samples for SeaWiFS were downloaded from an FTP site of the GSFC Earth Sciences DAAC (GES DAAC):
ftp://samoa.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/sdps/V4/L3BIN/monthly.
This sample dataset
shows the state of the phytoplankton, using chlorophyll concentration as a proxy.
The 2 datasets are for a well-developed El Niño and for a La Niña.
An increase in sea surface temperatures for the central and eastern equatorial Pacific
resulted in an decrease in upwelling; the lower supply of nutrients results in lower phytoplankton growth.
The dataset shows areas of unusually low chlorophyll concentrations in January 1998,
off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru, and in December, high chlorophyll concentrations across the equatorial Pacific.
SeaWiFS is a heritage instrument for MODIS.
New ENSO events can be monitored using both SeaWiFS and MODIS.
Data Product Quality
There is no known quality problem with this granule.
Disclaimer:
NASA offers these suggested sites for additional information regarding SeaWiFS Data.
Web access is required.
Link existence and contents are not under the control of the EOSDIS Science Operations Office.
SeaWiFS Data Web Sites
Warning: Link downloads MPEG movie, 2.5 MB size.
