Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA CoastWatch Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Level 2 Data

browse graphicPreview graphic
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.
  • 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].
gov.noaa.nodc:CoastWatch-OC-SeaWiFS-L2
Full Text · XML
Order Data
  • Order (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.
Distribution Formats
  • HDF4
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information(link is external)
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information(link is external)
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1998-04-12 to 2010-12-10
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG:4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -160
East: -60
South: 8
North: 65
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • NOAA Ocean Color Validation Homepage
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 1997-09-04
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
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
Purpose 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.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • 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.
  • 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.
Dataset Citation
  • 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].
Cited Authors
  • NOAA CoastWatch
Originators
  • NESDIS CoastWatch Program
  • NASA Earth Sciences Division
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • ORBIMAGE/GeoEye and NASA
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
  • satelliteObservation
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention Standard Names
  • concentration_of_chlorophyll_in_sea_water
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Originator Place Names
  • 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
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS
Data Resolution keywords Spatial Resolution
  • 1.1 km
Use Constraints
  • 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].
Access Constraints
  • 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.
Fees
  • 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.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps
  • 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.
Processing Documents
    • NOAA Ocean Color Validation Homepage
Source Datasets
  • Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 1A Data
    • Description of Source: SeaWiFS Level 1a data from which the Ocean Color Products are derived.
  • Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 2 Data
    • Description of Source: The resulting Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor Level 2 Data.
    • Temporal extent used: 1997-09-04 to Present
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - 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.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • SeaWiFS
Platform
  • OrbView-2
Last Modified: 2025-02-08T21:03:51Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov