NASA – Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Chase, Derek, Laurel, Tim

Purpose and Vision 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. Can monitor ocean production and phytoplankton process, ocean influences on climate processes (heat storage and aerosol formation ) and the cycles of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. Developed by ORBIMAGE Inc. and NASA

Technical Data Band Wavelength 1) 402-422 nm – Identify Yellow Substances 2) 433-453 nm – Chlorophyll Concentration 3) 480-500 nm – Increased Sensitivity to Chlorophyll 4) 500-520 nm – Chlorophyll Concentration 5) 545-565 nm - Gelbstoffe 6) 660-680 nm - Chlorophyll Concentration 7) 745-785 nm – Vegetation, Land- Water Interface 8) 845-885 nm - Vegetation, Land- Water Interface Mission Characteristics -Orbit Type - Sun Synchronous at 705 km -Equator Crossing - Noon +20 min, descending -Orbital Period - 99 minutes -Swath Width - 2,801 km LAC/HRPT (58.3 degrees) -Swath Width - 1,502 km GAC (45 degrees) -Spatial Resolution - 1.1 km LAC, 4.5 km GAC -Real-Time Data Rate - 665 kbps -Revisit Time - 1 day -Digitization - 10 bits

Imagery Users? The selection of authorized research users has been based on a submission of a brief proposal to NASA. Where to get it? As part of the contract between NASA and OSC, NASA retains all rights to data for research purposes, and ORBIMAGE retains all rights for commercial and operational purposes. Cost? $200-$800 depending on various sizes (11x14 -20x24)* OR FREE if used for educational or non-commercial research.

Example of Research “Ocean color chlorophyll algorithms for SeaWiFS” J0urnal of Geophysical Research, VOL. 103, PAGES 24,937 -24,953, OCT 15 1998 Evaluating a wide variety of ocean colored chlorophyll algorithms in use by Sea WiFS http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/whereis_seawifs.pl