Abstract:
This data set consists of global Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
data derived from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), in orbit
on the OrbView-2 (formerly SeaStar) platform. SeaWiFS data products are
processed and distributed by the Ocean Biology Processing Group (OBPG).
Processing details can be found at
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/DOCS/SW_proc.html The SeaWiFS
... Level 3 standard mapped image (SMI) products are integer
representations of binned data products. This image is an 8-bit,
two-dimensional array of an Equidistant Cylindrical projection of the globe.
(The capability to produce 16-bit SMI products has been implemented by the
OBPG, and the SeaWiFS NDVI products are expected to be regenerated as 16-bits
values at the next reprocessing in about 1 year.) Each SMI product contains
one image of a geophysical parameter and is stored in one physical HDF file.
The Level 3 binned products are used to generate mapped data products on 4 and
9 km equi-rectangular projection. The products are generated for the following
binning periods: Daily, 8-Day, Monthly, Monthly Climatology, Seasonal, Seasonal
Climatology, Annual, Cumulative.
Detailed information on the Level-3 Standard Mapped Image data product format
specifications can be found in the document at
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/DOCS/Ocean_Level-3_SMI_Products.pdf
Browse Level 3 Standard Mapped Images (SMI) at
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/level3.pl
The SeaWiFS Level 3 Mapped data files are available from the FTP site at
ftp://oceans.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/Mapped/ 
