Abstract:
This data set consists of satellite measurements of global ocean color and sea
surface temperature (SST) data obtained by the Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS), in orbit on the Aqua (formerly EOS PM) platform.
MODIS ocean color and SST products are processed and distributed by the Ocean
Biology Processing Group (OBPG). MODIS Aqua processing details can be found at
... http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/DOCS/MODISA_processing.html . The generation
of SST products from the MODIS sensors is performed using the Multi-Sensor
Level-1 to Level-2 software (MSl12), based on algorithms and logic originally
developed by the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmosphere Science (RSMAS) at
the University of Miami. SST processing details can be found at
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/DOCS/modis_sst/
The Aqua MODIS Level 3 standard mapped image (SMI) products are integer
representations of binned data products. This image is a 16-bit (SST) / 8-bit
(Ocean Color), two-dimensional array of an Equidistant Cylindrical projection
of the globe. (The capability to produce 16-bit SMI ocean color products has
been implemented by the OBPG, and the MODIS Ocean Color products are expected
to be regenerated as 16-bits values at the next reprocessing in about 1 year.)
Each SMI product contains one 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.
Five SMI products are generated from each standard Ocean Color binned data
product, one for each of the following geophysical parameters:
-Chlorophyll-a concentration (CHLO)
-Normalized water-leaving radiance at band 5 (L551)
-Aerosol optical thickness at band 8 for atmospheric correction (T869)
-Angstrom coefficient, 531-869 nm, for atmospheric correction (A531)
-Diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm (measure of optical clarity) (K490)
Three SMI products are generated for each standard SST binning period:
NSST = Sea Surface Temperature - 11 micron (nighttime)
SST = Sea Surface Temperature - 11 micron (daytime)
SST4 = Sea Surface Temperature - 4 micron (nighttime only)
Each SMI product represents data binned over the period covered by the parent
product. The arithmetic mean is used in each case to obtain the values for the
SMI grid points from the binned data products.
More 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
Please, read the MODIS Ocean Parent document for more details:
http://gcmd.nasa.gov/getdif.htm?MODIS_OCEAN_PARENT
Browse Level 3 Standard Mapped Images (SMI) at
http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/level3.pl
The MODIS Aqua Level 3 Mapped data files are available from the FTP site at
ftp://oceans.gsfc.nasa.gov/MODISA/Mapped/ 
