Data Access

Data Distribution Status

All systems nominal
(SeaWiFS mission ended December 2010)

NOTE: FTP connections must be made in PASSIVE mode

Level 1 and 2 Browser

Visually search the ocean color data archive. Directly download or order data from a single file to an entire mission. Simulated data from the upcoming Aquarius mission can be found here

Level 3 Browser

Browse the entire global ocean color, sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity data sets for many parameters and time periods and download PNG images or digital data in HDF format.

Global Time Series

Time series plots of selected SeaWiFS, MODIS and OCTS Standard Mapped Images for a set of selected regions or the entire globe.

Data Archive

Access to the complete data archive via an 'FTP-like' directory structure. Retrieval of data in bulk is possible with this new server.

Ocean Productivity

Ocean Net Primary Productivity data products derived from MODIS and/or SeaWiFS data available from Oregon State University.

Giovanni

An easy-to-use, Web-based interface for the visualization and analysis of Earth Science data provided by the GES DISC DAAC.

Support Services

SeaDAS

A comprehensive image analysis package for the processing, display, analysis, and quality control of ocean color data.

SeaBASS

An archive of in situ oceanographic and atmospheric data for use in algorithm development and satellite data product validation.

Registration for support services:

Near Real-Time (NRT) Services:

NRT Data Subscriptions
Subscriptions allow users to specify regions for NRT data to be continually staged on our FTP server for download.

Information Services:

Other Services:

Satellite Overflight Predictions
Data subscription status
L1/L2 browser order status
File Search Utility
Search for satellite and ancillary data archived by the ocean color data production system.

Ocean Color Feature

Northern Gulf of Mexico

One of the most documented dead zones on Earth is in the northern Gulf of Mexico in the summer when solar heating increases the buoyancy of surface waters thereby reducing mixing between the surface and the bottom. Phytoplankton -- powered by the same sunlight and fed by a rich nutrient broth flowing out of local rivers -- bloom, die, sink, and get remineralized by bacteria which use up all the available oxygen in the isolated bottom waters which then become dead zones.

The above view looking eastwards from Louisiana on the left towards northern Florida in the distance on the right was collected in winter when oxygenated water is more easily mixed down to the sea floor. The tell-tale tan and greenish-brown plumes from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers show that even though dead zones may not form in winter, transport of the suspended sediments that are usually accompanied by nutrients continues all year long.

You may click on the above Aqua MODIS image for a larger version. A still larger 7.3 megabyte version is also available.