From: richard.stumpf@noaa.gov Date: Mon, 12 Apr 99 09:46:39 -0500 To: , Subject: SeaWiFS data MIME-Version: 1.0 EEGLE and KITES PI's: Most of you are probably aware of the SeaWiFS ocean color imaging sensor. This sensor has much greater sensitivity than the AVHRR to suspended solids (turbidity), and it was designed to provide chlorophyll concentrations. SeaWiFS has a 1-2 day repeat, and 1.1 km pixel size. However, SeaWiFS and its data set are the property of Orbital Sciences (http://www.orbimage.com). NASA has an arrangement for the use of the data for research purposes. NASA-approved researchers can obtain the SeaWiFS data for free (or cost of reproduction), after 14 days. Depending on the use for the data, several scenarios exist: 1) You have a commercial application or wish to generally distribute the data (such as on an open web site). You must purchase the data from Orbital Sciences. http://www.orbimage.com 2) You want to access the data for research only, without any redistribution (except to authorized research users). You must be a NASA-approved research user. Check the following page for instructions: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/~grey/checklist.html IMPORTANT: It does not matter who processes the data for research applications, IF YOU WANT TO USE SEAWIFS DATA YOU MUST BE APPROVED. SEAWIFS WEB-SITES MUST BE RESTRICTED TO AUTHORIZED USERS. 3) You want to access the data in real-time for research only, such as for a research cruise. You must be a NASA-approved research user, then you must request one of NASA's several real-time research licenses. If a license is available, this allows you several weeks of real-time access. More information is also at: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/~grey/checklist.html 4) You want to access SeaWiFS data for a project that is non-commercial governmental monitoring and operations. The NOAA CoastWatch program is working on a mechanism for this, but it is not yet in place. If this takes place, governmental, non-research usages of SeaWiFS including realtime data, will be available through the CoastWatch program. This is not a substitute for research users to avoid the NASA approval. Check with the Great Lakes CoastWatch node for the status of this effort and the requirements and conditions. http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov 5) You wonder what this is all about, and whether SeaWiFS is useful: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS.html You want to know whether SeaWiFS had a clear pass yesterday, or on your last cruise: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgibrs/seawifs_browse.pl You want to see example pretty pictures from anywhere: http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/IMAGES/SEAWIFS_GALLERY.html 6) There are some challenges with the processing of SeaWiFS, significant improvements have been made, and we have the ability to produce a superior product, particularly for chlorophyll, than available through the NASA standard processing. This will become available to KITES and EEGLE through a variety of sources including CoastWatch, Michigan Tech, GLERL, and others (my group will be processing test images for algorithm improvements). Why are there problems with the standard processing? NASA has had a responsibility to determine global chlorophyll and factors involved in global primary production, and have done a stellar job at this, not least of which is routine processing and delivery of data to the research community. They did not have the mission or resources to deal with the coastal zone. If you have additional questions on SeaWiFS, you can also speak with Judy Budd at MTU or George Leshkevich at GLERL, who should be happy to answer them. Regards. --rick _______________________________________________________________________________ Richard P. Stumpf phone: 301-713-3000 x173 NOAA National Ocean Service fax: 301-713-4388 Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment 1305 East-West Highway, N/SCI1 rm 9109 Silver Spring, MD 20910 email: richard.stumpf@noaa.gov _______________________________________________________________________________