NASA's OceanColor Web is supported by the Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Our responsibilities include the collection, processing, calibration, validation, archive and distribution of ocean-related products from a large number of operational, satellite-based remote-sensing missions providing ocean color, sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity data to the international research community since 1996.

Ocean Color Feature

Gulf of Alaska and Station Papa

The skies over Ocean Station Papa are cloudy more often than not, and the North Pacific there is often anything but. On September 30, 2018, however — while a storm churned to the west — Station Papa and much of the Gulf of Alaska basked in sunshine. The VIIRS instrument aboard the Suomi-NPP spacecraft took advantage of the clear skies to image phytoplankton communities swirling in the turbulent ocean.

Station Papa has recently been the site of the first stage of the EXPORTS field campaign.

Click on the above image to get a larger version.

Ocean Biology Distributed Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC)

The OBPG serves as a DAAC for satellite ocean biology data produced or collected under NASA EOSDIS, including those from historical missions and partner space organizations. OB.DAAC is a member of the ICSU World Data System.

SeaDAS

SeaDAS is an image analysis package for the processing and display of satellite ocean color data.

SeaBASS

SeaBASS is a repository of in situ oceanographic data to support algorithm development and satellite data product validation activities.

Field Support Group

The OBPG maintains a Field Support Group that collects in situ data, engages in community measurement protocols activities, and hosts an HPLC phytoplankton pigment processing facility.