Title: Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) Level 2 Products
Description:
Abstract:
The purpose of the CZCS on Nimbus-7 was to obtain a
better understanding of the temporal and spatial
distribution of phytoplankton biomass and primary
production, and a better understanding of the processes
regulating the growth of phytoplankton and of the processes
influencing the ultimate fate of this organically fixed
carbon. Satellite observations of ocean color were
necessary to provide reliable estimates of marine
phytoplankton biomass on synoptic scales which are useful
in studies of phytoplankton processes. The mission
objectives for the CZCS were to obtain observations of
ocean color and temperature, particularly in the coastal
zones, which would provide data with sufficient spatial and
spectral resolution for the following applications:
- Measure concentrations of chlorophyll-a and
phaeophytin.
- Map biologically productive areas.
- Map suspended sediment distribution and determine
the type of
materials suspended in the water.
- Map Gelbstoffe (yellow substances) as an indicator
of salinity.
- Detect pollutants in the upper level of the oceans.
- Map temperature of coastal waters and the open
ocean.
- Study the interactions between coastal effluents
and open waters.
Level 2 Data contain 6 derived geophysical parameters
for each CZCS scene:
- Phytoplankton Pigment Concentrations
- Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient
- Normalized Water-Leaving Radiance @ 440 nm
- Normalized Water-Leaving Radiance @ 520 nm
- Normalized Water-Leaving Radiance @ 550 nm
- Aerosol Radiance @ 670 nm
Each data segment is a single CZCS scene with a
maximum of 2 minutes of
data. Approximately 66,000 2-minute individual scenes
were collected.
The level 2 scenes are partial orbital swaths. In one
two-minute data
segment, the CZCS covers approximately 1.3 million
square kilometers
of the ocean surface. Level 2 derived geophysical
parameters have a
spatial resolution of about 4 km at nadir.
DATA MEDIA AND FORMATS:
The ESA/EPO NIMBUS-7 CZCS Level 2 products are
recordered on
Computer Compatible Tape (CCTs) in a format that is
"partially"
conformed to the Standard Family Format (SFF)
convention.
Conventionally, the individual tape is referred to as
a physical volume.
The logical volume refers to data files logically
grouped on the tape.
The SEF allows that more than one logical volume (a
volume set) be
stored on the same physical volume. One logical
volume can also be
split between different physical volumes.
The logical volume of ESA/EPO CZCS Level 2 product
consists of the following files:
- A volume directory file which contains the logical
and physical structure of the tape (the number of all files on
CCT: the position and content of these files;
the number of records and maximum record
length within each files)
- The data files: the imagery files are preceded by
a quicklook file
& leader file and followed by a trailer file (the
quicklook file
contains quicklook image and catalogue information;
the leader file
contains scene introductory information; the trailer
file contains
quality flags as determined during the scene
processing)
- A null volume directory file which indicates the
end of the logical
volume of a volume set (a collection of logical
volumes).
To order data please see
"http://earth.esa.int/helpandmail/help_order.html"
