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Level 2 Sample Images
4 km resolution images of phytoplankton pigment concentration (a derived geophysical parameter, consisting primarily of chlorophyll
and phaeophytin concentration)
Cape Cod
.gif)
Gibraltar
CZCS was a multi-spectral line scanner devoted principally to measurements of ocean color which operated from November 2, 1978 to June 22, 1986.
It had six spectral bands (channels), four of which were devoted to ocean color, each having a 20 nanometer bandwidth and centered at 443, 520, 550, and
670 nanometers. These are referred to as channels 1 through 4, respectively. Channel 5 sensed reflected solar radiance and had a 100 nanometer bandwidth
centered at 750 nanometers and a dynamic range which was more suited to land. Channel 6 operated in the 10.5 to 12.5 micrometer region and sensed emitted
thermal radiance for derivation of equivalent black body temperature.
This document describes the 4 km resolution (DSP and HDF format) Coastal Zone Color Scanner Level 1a and Level 2 data products
archived at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC). Other CZCS data products archived at Goddard include
1 km resolution CZCS Level 1 products and 18 km resolution Level 3 composite products. The characteristics of the CZCS Sensor are described in the Coastal
Zone Color Scanner Sensor Guide and the Nimbus-7 platform is described in the Nimbus-7 Platform Guide.
Table of Contents
- Document Information
- Investigator(s)
- Dataset Information
- Theory of Measurements
- Equipment
- Procedure
- Observations
- Data Granularity
- Data Description
- Data Manipulations
- Errors
- Notes
- Application of the Dataset
- Dataset Plans
- References
- Related Software
- Data Access
- Output Products and Availability
- Glossary of Terms
- List of Acronyms
-
- Dr. Gene Feldman
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 610.2.3
- Greenbelt, MD 20771
- (301)286-9428
- email: gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov
- Dr. Chuck McClain
- McClain - Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 971
- Greenbelt, MD 20771
- (301)286-8134
- email: mcclain@calval.gsfc.nasa.gov
- Dr. Wayne Esaias
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 971
- Greenbelt, MD 20771
- (301)286-5465
- email: wayne@pelican.gsfc.nasa.gov
Coastal Zone Color Scanner
- CZCS Data -
- Dr. Gene Feldman
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 610.2.3
- Greenbelt, MD 20771
- (301)286-9428
- email: gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov
- Software -
- Dr. Bob Evans
- University of Miami, RSMAS/MPO
- 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
- Miami, FL 33149
- (305)361-4799
- email: bob@rrsl.rsmas.miami.edu
-
-
For most regions of the world, the observed color of the ocean is determined primarily
by the abundance of phytoplankton and their associated photosynthetic
pigments. As the concentration of phytoplankton pigments increases, ocean
color shifts from blue to green. The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS)
was a multi-spectral line scanner developed by NASA to measure ocean color
as a means of determining photosynthetic pigment concentrations and the distribution of
particulate matter and dissolved substances in the oceans.
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The purpose of the CZCS on Nimbus-7 was to obtain a global understanding of the temporal and spatial
distribution of phytoplankton biomass and primary production, a better understanding
of the processes regulating the growth of phytoplankton in the ocean, and increased insight
into 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-related 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 Gelbstoff (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 1 data contain at-spacecraft raw radiance counts with calibration and earth location information appended, but not applied. These data contain radiances from the six
spectral bands (channels):
Channel Wavelength Purpose
1 433-453 nm (blue) Photosynthetic pigment absorption
2 510-530 nm (green) Photosynthetic pigment concentration
3 540-560 nm (yellow) Gelbstoff concentration
4 660-680 nm (red) aerosol absorption
5 700-800 nm (far red) land and cloud detection
6 10.5-12.5 microns (infra-red) surface temperature
-
Organic and inorganic particulate matter, as well as some dissolved substances in the
water, affect its color. Ocean water containing very little particulate matter scatters
as a Rayleigh scatterer, producing the well-known deep purple or bluish color of the
open sea. As particulate matter concentrations increase, its light scattering characteristics change and different
water colors are observed. Phytoplankton, for instance, have specific absorption characteristics and normally change the water to a more greenish
hue---although some phytoplankton, such as various red tide organisms, can change the water to colors such as red, yellow, blue-green or mahogany. Inorganic particulate matter in water, such as the terrigenous
outflow from rivers, has a different color from organic material (typically brownish in color but sometimes varying with
red). Differentiating between suspended organic and
inorganic matter remains a challenge to ocean color scientists today. By sensing the color with very high signal-to-noise ratios in several narrow bands, CZCS provided a
mechanism for correlating water color with its contents for the first time.
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CZCS had a scan width of 1556 km centered on nadir and the ground resolution was 0.825 km at nadir. Channels 1-4 were devoted to ocean color, each having 20 nanometer
bandwidth and centered at 443, 520, 550, and 670 nm, respectively. Channel 5 sensed reflected solar radiance, but had a 100 nanometer bandwidth centered at 750 nanometers
and a dynamic range which was more suited to land. Channel 6 operated in the 10.5 to 12.5 micrometer region and sensed emitted thermal radiance for derivation of equivalent black
body temperature.
-
CZCS was launched aboard Nimbus-7 in October 1978. Due to the power demands of the various on-board experiments the CZCS operated on an intermittent schedule. The
infra-red/temperature sensor (channel 6 10.5-12.5 microns) failed within the first year. Sometime in 1981 it was determined that the sensitivity of the other CZCS sensors was
degrading with time, in particular channel 4. Sensitivity degradation was persistent and increased during the rest of the mission.
In mid-1984, NIMBUS-7 mission personnel experienced turn-on problems with the CZCS system which were related to power supply problems and the annual lower power
summer season of NIMBUS-7. Also, spontaneous shutdown of the CZCS system began occurring. These problems also persisted for the rest of the mission. From March 9, 1986 to June
1986, the CZCS system was given highest priority for the collection of a contemporaneous data set of ocean color. It was turned off in June at the start of the low power season with
the intention of turning it back on in December when power conditions would be more favorable. Attempts to reactivate CZCS in December 1986 failed. The CZCS sensor was
officially declared non-operational on 18 December 1986.
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Nimbus-7, launched in October 1978, was a research-and-development satellite serving as a stabilized, earth-observing platform for the testing of advanced systems
for sensing and collecting data in the pollution, oceanographic, and meteorological disciplines. It provided an opportunity to assess each instrument's operation in the space
environment and to collect a sizable body of data with the global and seasonal coverage needed for support of each experiment. The mission also extended and refined the
sounding and atmospheric structure measurement capabilities demonstrated by experiments on previous Nimbus observatories.
Nimbus-7 sensors included a limb infrared monitor of the stratosphere (LIMS), stratospheric and mesopheric sounder (SAMS), coastal-zone
color scanner (CZCS), stratospheric aerosol measurement (SAM II), earth radiation budget (ERB), scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR), solar
backscatter UV and total ozone mapping spectrometer (SBUV/TOMS), and temperature-humidity infrared radiometer (THIR). These sensors were capable of observing
several parameters at and below the mesospheric levels. After 11 years in orbit, three experiments---SAM II, SBUV/TOMS, and ERB---were still functioning successfully.
Nimbus-7 was finally retired in 1995.
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Nominal orbit parameters for the Nimbus-7 spacecraft were:
Launch date 10/24/78
Orbit Sun-synchronous, near polar
Nominal Altitude (km) 955
Inclination (deg) 104.9
Nodal Period (min.) 104
Equator Crossing Time 1200 noon (ascending)
Nodal Increment (deg) 26.1
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CZCS was a cross-track scanning system. The Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) of each detector was .865 mrad, yielding a resolution of 825 m at the satellite subpoint.
The swath covered 1566 km in width from a maximum scan angle of approximately 40 degrees. 1970 samples per scan were collected for channels 1-6. This yielded 94,560
samples per second with an 8 bit (256 level) quantizing resolution. Data were then transmitted to a receiving station at a rate of 800 kbps.
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation ,
(http://www.ball.com/corporate/hspacebu.html).
-
Prelaunch calibration of the CZCS used a 76 cm diameter integrating sphere as a source of diffuse radiance for channels 1 through 5 and a blackbody source for
calibration of channel 6. The integrating sphere was especially constructed for calibration of the CZCS and was calibrated from a standard lamp from the National Bureau
of Standards utilizing a
spectrometer and another integrating sphere to transfer calibration from the lamp to the sphere.
In addition to the sphere and the blackbody, a collimator was used to calibrate the CZCS in vacuum testing. In-flight calibration of the CZCS is accomplished for the
first five bands by using a built-in incandescent light source. This in-flight calibration source was calibrated using the instrument itself as a transfer against the referenced
sphere output.
Channel 6 was calibrated by viewing the blackened housing of the instrument whose temperature is monitored. Deep space is another calibration viewed during the
360 degree rotation of the scan mirror.
For further details on the CZCS sensor and the Nimbus-7 satellite, please consult The
Coastal Zone Color Scanner Instrument Guide, (http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/guides/GSFC/guide/CZCS_Sensor.gd.shtml) and the
Nimbus 7 Platform Guide ,
(http://podaac-www.jpl.nasa.gov:2031/SOURCE_DOCS/nimbus7.html).
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The raw data from the six CZCS channels were either directly transmitted to the ground station in real-time or recorded on the satellite tape recorder for
later playback and transmission to the ground station. Data were stored on magnetic tape and sent to the Image Processing Division (IPD) at Goddard Space
Flight Center (GSFC). In addition to radiance measurements, these data also include the calibration lamp data and Image Location Data (ILT).
-
-
(This information is not available for CZCS.)
-
(This information is not available for CZCS.)
Each Level 1a (L1A) or Level 2 (L2) granule is a partial orbital swath with a maximum of 2 minutes of data. One two-minute CZCS scene covers approximately 1.3 million square
km of the Earth's surface.
Spatial Coverage is global with an emphasis on coastal regions. Spatial coverage varied widely and was very irregular. The plot below shows a composite of the
spatial coverage for the entire CZCS mission. Nine additional plots show the geographic distribution of CZCS data for each of the nine years from 1978-1986.
Each dot on these plots represents the center point of one CZCS scene. These images show the irregular spatial distribution of the CZCS data set graphically.
L1A and L2 CZCS scenes had a spatial resolution at nadir of 4 km in each of the six co-registered channels, or in the derived
geophysical products.
Level 1a and Level 2 scenes have satellite swath projection.
The archive of CZCS data products began on November 2, 1978 and continued until June 22, l986. However, there are several periods of intermittent coverage. When
operating full time, approximately 400 images were collected each month. The following figure shows a graphical display of the temporal distribution of the CZCS
L1A and L2 data set.
Each CZCS scan viewed the Earth for approximately 27.5 microseconds. During this period, each channel of the analog data output was digitized to obtain a total of
about 2000 samples. Successive scans occurred at the rate of 8 per second. Subsequent coverage of the same geographic area varied greatly from place to place and
over the lifetime of the instrument.
CZCS Level 1a data contain at-spacecraft raw radiance counts with calibration and Earth location information included. The data is
subsampled every 4th line and every 4th pixel to yield an effective resolution of 4 km. Visible and infrared radiances were
measured in six spectral channels. The spectral region and band widths of the six channels and primary use of each are indicated in the
following table:
Channel Spectral Band Primary purpose
(nanometers)
1 433 - 453 Chlorophyll absorption
2 510 - 530 Chlorophyll correlation
3 540 - 560 Yellow substance (Gelbstoff)
4 660 - 680 Aerosol correction
5 700 - 800 Land/cloud flag
6 10.5 - 12.5 microns Surface temperature; failed shortly after launch
CZCS Level 2 data is based on derived relationships that compute 6 geophysical parameters from the radiance counts detected by
the instrument. The six geophysical parameters are the normalized water-leaving radiance at 443, 520, and 550 nm; the aerosol radiance
at 670 nm; the chlorophyll (and associated phytoplankton pigments) concentration; and the diffuse attenuation coefficient measured at 490 nm,
K(490). The resolution of the Level 2 data is the same as that for the Level 1a data, 4 km.
Level 1 Calibrated radiances were measured in units of mW/(cm2.sr.micron) with 1x1 km resolution.
CZCS was orbited aboard the Nimbus-7 satellite.
The CZCS Level 1a and Level 2 data are available from the DAAC in two data formats: HDF, the standard data format of the entire Goddard
EOSDIS Version 0 (V0) and the SeaWiFS Project; and DSP, a
user-interactive satellite data analysis package that was developed at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
(University of Miami). DSP operates on either DEC-VAX or Unix Workstation computers. Most users will access these data sets in the HDF
format, which is described here. Information on DSP may be obtained from Robert H. Evans (bob@miami.rsmas.miami.edu) at the University
of Miami. See below for a brief description of how the CZCS data were transformed through various data formats to their current status
as HDF files.
HDF was developed by the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Software Development Group. Additional explanation
of HDF can be found at the HDF Web site. HDF provides several different "data models" which can be used to store data products. The
data models currently provided by HDF included Scientific Data Sets (SDS), Raster Image Sets (RIS), Vdatas, and Vgroups.
Each CZCS Level 1a data file contains 10 Scientific Data Sets in two Vgroup files, one for radiance data and one for navigational
data. 54 global attributes are stored in a metadata file. The 10 scientific data sets are described as follows:
RADIANCE DATA Vgroup
Subsampled Band 1 (433-453 nm) radiance counts
Subsampled Band 2 (510-530 nm) radiance counts
Subsampled Band 3 (540-560 nm) radiance counts
Subsampled Band 4 (660-680 nm) radiance counts
Subsampled Band 5 (700-800 nm) radiance counts
Subsampled Band 6 (10.5-12.5 microns) radiance counts
NAVIGATIONAL DATA Vgroup
Latitude
Longitude
Control Point Rows
Control Point Columns
In a CZCS Level 2 data file, the radiance counts have been converted to geophysical parameters. Each of these geophysical parameters is
stored in a Scientific Data Set, as follows:
Normalized water-leaving radiance, 443 nm
Normalized water-leaving radiance, 520 nm
Normalized water-leaving radiance, 550 nm
Aerosol radiance, 670 nm
Chlorophyll and associated pigment concentration
Diffuse attenuation coefficient, 490 nm
Latitude
Longitude
Control Point Rows
Control Point Columns
The 54 global attributes, which are common to a Level 1a data file and the associated Level 2 data file, are listed below for an example scene.
Attribute Product Name has the value : C1985119202621.L1A_GAC
Attribute Title has the value : CZCS Level-1A Data
Attribute Data Center has the value : NASA/GSFC DAAC
Attribute Station Name has the value : Wallops Flight Facility
Attribute Station Latitude has the value : 37.927200
Attribute Station Longitude has the value : -75.475304
Attribute Mission has the value : Nimbus CZCS
Attribute Mission Characteristics has the value : Nominal orbit: inclination = 99.3
(Sun-synchronous); node = 11:52 a.m. local (ascending); eccentricity = < 0.0009;
altitude = 955 km; ground speed = 6.4km/sec
Attribute Sensor has the value : Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS)
Attribute Sensor Characteristics has the value : Number of bands = 6; number of active
bands = 6; wavelengths per band (nm)= 443, 520, 550, 670, 750, 11500; bits per pixel = 8;
instantaneous field-of-view = .865 mrad; pixels per scan = 492; scan rate = 8.08/sec;
sample rate = 3975/sec
Attribute Data Type has the value : GAC
Attribute Replacement Flag has the value : ORIGINAL
Attribute Input Files has the value : c85119202621.ni7
Attribute Start Time has the value : 1985119202621797
Attribute End Time has the value : 1985119202722043
Attribute Scene Center Time has the value : 1985119202651920
Attribute Start Year has the value : 1985
Attribute Start Day has the value : 119
Attribute Start Millisec has the value : 21
Attribute End Year has the value : 1985
Attribute End Day has the value : 119
Attribute End Millisec has the value : 22
Attribute Start Node has the value : ascending
Attribute End Node has the value : ascending
Attribute Sensor Tilt has the value : 20
Attribute Orbit Number has the value : 32890
Attribute Gain has the value : 1
Attribute Ozone has the value : 433
Attribute Status has the value : Approved
Attribute Pixels per Scan Line has the value : 492
Attribute Number of Scan Lines has the value : 122
Attribute LAC Pixel Start Number has the value : 1
Attribute LAC Pixel Subsampling has the value : 4
Attribute Scene Center Scan Line has the value : 61
Attribute Latitude Units has the value : degrees North
Attribute Longitude Units has the value : degrees East
Attribute Scene Center Latitude has the value : 43.353191
Attribute Scene Center Longitude has the value : -139.058334
Attribute Upper Left Latitude has the value : 42.431637
Attribute Upper Left Longitude has the value : -153.757706
Attribute Upper Right Latitude has the value : 47.043640
Attribute Upper Right Longitude has the value : -125.050400
Attribute Lower Left Latitude has the value : 39.272713
Attribute Lower Left Longitude has the value : -151.812469
Attribute Lower Right Latitude has the value : 43.639820
Attribute Lower Right Longitude has the value : -124.580383
Attribute Northernmost Latitude has the value : 47.043640
Attribute Southernmost Latitude has the value : 39.272713
Attribute Westernmost Longitude has the value : -153.757706
Attribute Easternmost Longitude has the value : -124.580383
Attribute Start Center Latitude has the value : 45.027626
Attribute Start Center Longitude has the value : -139.717209
Attribute End Center Latitude has the value : 41.648243
Attribute End Center Longitude has the value : -138.417877
Other ocean color data sets include SeaWiFS, MOS-PRIRODA, OCTS and some airborne data collected by
NASA and NOAA. Many investigations benefit from correlating CZCS data with available in situ and sea surface
temperature data.
More information is on our Satellite Based Ocean Color Instruments page.
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The most significant problems encountered in analyzing the CZCS data are in the correction for atmospheric dispersion, and differentiating between
pigment concentrations and suspended inorganic substances. In the visible portion of the spectrum, the largest contribution to the signal received by CZCS was from the atmosphere. Rayleigh and
aerosol scattering in the atmosphere require accurate correction routines to eliminate their contribution, which then allows a high degree of accuracy in the determination of
oceanic pigment concentration and diffuse attenuation coefficient.
The calibration procedure is quite complex, and will not be discussed in detail here. The Rayleigh component is assumed essentially
constant, allowing it to be subtracted from the signal. Aerosol scattering is variable, and is estimated by assuming that the red region of the spectrum is completely absorbed by the ocean surface and
therefore returns no signal to the instrument. From this assumption, aerosol scattering can be calculated for the rest of the visible spectrum. References 11.2.b and 11.2.c describe
these principles in detail. The final data are in the form of calibrated radiances.
Photosynthetic pigment concentration algorithms were used to reduce the data produced from the Level 1 (and Level 1a) radiance data to Level 2 pigment concentration. These algorithms
use radiance data ratios to determine concentrations. Channels 1 and 3 were used for lower concentrations (less than 1.5 mg/m**3) and channels 2 and 3 for
higher concentrations. These algorithms also account for the Rayleigh and aerosol atmospheric scattering present by employing empirical
coefficients in the equations for pigment concentration.
At Goddard Space Flight Center the data were converted from voltages to radiances for bands 1 through 5, and to equivalent blackbody temperatures for band 6. The
Level 1 radiance data were used to produce black and white images. Algorithms developed by the CZCS Nimbus Experiment Team were then applied to produce
Level 1a and 2 data of suspended and dissolved materials on the water. These algorithms have continued to evolve since the beginning of data collection, especially
for retrieval of water properties in sediment-laden coastal regions.
The entire CZCS digital archive was later converted from the original 1600-bpi magnetic tape to Sony digital optical disk at Goddard Space Flight Center. 38,000
nine track magnetic tapes were read 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for 18 months in order to transfer the data to approximately 185, 12 inch optical discs.
The newly archived data format was nearly identical to the Calibrated Radiance and Temperature Tape (CRTT) product. These optical platters are now stored at
the Goddard DAAC and remain a primary archive for the CZCS data set.
Researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS) converted the data on the optical
platters into the "DSP" format for the purposes of further analysis. This format was in use by the oceanographic community until the
conversion to the HDF format, which has been adopted by the SeaWiFS Project and the Earth Observing System, and the Goddard DAAC, including
the Ocean Color DAAC. Consult RSMAS for further information on the DSP format. The description above applies to CZCS HDF files.
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Some Level 1 scenes were flagged as containing unreliable data and were not included in the Level 3 composites but are still available from the Goddard DAAC.
During ingest into the Goddard DAAC, metadata contained in the Level 1 files were accessed and used to produce a comprehensive and consistent database for all
CZCS holdings. Many duplicate files and errors were eliminated in this first effort. In 1996 the metadata themselves were reviewed uncovering several types of
navigational errors. Based on that analysis the database was updated and corrected again. The corrected data base entries now provide the framework for operational
Browse and request processing.
In situ data useful for CZCS applications are available from SeaBASS
(http://shark.gsfc.nasa.gov/~schieb/seabass/html/seabass.html). SeaBASS is a product of the Calibration/Validation element of the NASA Sea-viewing Wide
Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) Project. SeaBASS provides an interface to the Project's holdings of bio-optical and laboratory instrument calibration data.
The interface allows access to over 1000 individual data files provided by numerous investigators.
Currently, the SeaBASS bio-optical holdings include radiometric data and in situ pigments collected as part of these experiments:
Nimbus Experiment Team (NET)
U.S. Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS)
CHORS_JGOFS
Bermuda Bio-Optical Program (BBOP)
CHORS/British Ocean Flux Study (BOFS)
Bermuda Area Time Series (BATS)
Hawaii Ocean Time Series (HOTS)
Tokyo Bay
MOCE1
MOCE2
MOCE3
CALCOFI Cruises
LTER
NORTH SEA Experiments
Chesapeake Bay
SeaBASS also includes instrument calibration data collected as part of SIRREX-1, SIRREX-2, and eventually SIRREX-3/4/5. New data sets are received and
archived on a regular basis. SeaBASS is described in much greater detail in Volume 20 of the SeaWiFS Technical Report Series (NASA Tech. Memorandum 104566).
You may request a copy of Vol. 20 via the SeaWiFS TM Series order form
from the Goddard
DAAC Helpdesk via email or phone: daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov, (301) 614-5224.
CZCS performed better than its design requirements for signal-to-noise ratio in all channels. The table below shows the minimum signal-to-noise ratio specified
for the instrument at its most sensitive gain setting. In the worst case, the chlorophyll concentration can be determined within a factor of 2 of the actual concentration.
Channel/ Signal/Noise
Band Ratio (mW/cm**2-ster) Radiance NETD Temp
1 150 5.41
2 140 3.50
3 125 2.86
4 100 1.34
5 100 10.8
6 N/A N/A 0.220K 270K
No additional measurement error assessments are available.
No additional quality assessments are available.
The Goddard DAAC has not performed data verification on the CZCS dataset. Only metadata verification has been performed.
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The internal metadata in the header and trailer documentation records for Level 1 files is known to be erroneous in several instances. The Goddard DAAC's data
base has been corrected, but the individual header and trailer records have not been corrected.
Assumptions in the atmospheric correction of the data during processing resulted in an accuracy of 35% in ocean color measurements in Case I waters (chlorophyll
and associated pigments determine the reflectance) and within a factor of 2 generally.
Due to the limited duty cycle (10%) and the non-uniform coverage, sampling was highly skewed. Temporal sampling frequency also varied, resulting in potential
errors. An in depth overview of the entire history of the CZCS Project is included in Reference 4, below.
(Please refer to Section 4.)
The Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) is scheduled to launch in 1997 as a follow-on to CZCS. SeaWiFS data will be distributed to authorized
users by the Goddard DAAC. Numerous documents describing SeaWiFs data and the SeaWiFS Project activities may be obtained from the The Ocean Color Data
and Resources website at
/OCDST/OB_main.html
Users should refer to the SeaWiFS Project homepage for the latest information on SeaWiFS:
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov.
- "CZCS Sensor Guide Document", prepared by the Distributed
Active Archive Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1995.
- "The Living Ocean: Observing Ocean Color From Space", NASA Publication PAM-554, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1993.
- "Coastal zone color scanner 'system calibration': A retrospective examination." R.H. Evans & H.R. Gordon, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.99. No. C4,
pages 7293-7307, April 15, 1994.
- "Coastal Zone Color Scanner", European Space Research Institute, Frascati, Italy.
- Nimbus 7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) Level 1 Data Product Users' Guide NASA TM 86203, S.P. Williams, E.F. Szajna and W.A. Hovis. Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771. July, 1986, 53 pages.
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The April 15, 1994 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research (Volume 99, Number C4) contains a Special Section entitled "Ocean Color From Space: A Coastal Zone
Color Scanner Retrospective."
There are two primary ways in which CZCS Level 1a and Level 2 data may be examined and processed. The appropriate
software package to use depends on the data format. If the data is in DSP format, CZCS Level 1a and 2 DSP images can be converted to
the SEAPAK format using the SEAPAK package, which is also used for CZCS Level 1 data processing. The Goddard DAAC provides a mirror site for the
distribution of SEAPAK CZCS data processing software.
If the CZCS data is in the HDF format, the appropriate package to use for processing and analysis is SeaDAS. Subsequent to the
information provided on SEAPAK is a brief description of SeaDAS and links to sites with more detailed information.
SEAPAK
SEAPAK is a user-interactive satellite data analysis package that was developed at the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. The primary application of SEAPAK is for the
processing and interpretation of Level 1 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data.
Two versions of the SEAPAK CZCS processing software are available free of charge online and on tape from the Goddard DAAC. PC-SEAPAK runs on PC-AT, 386,
or 486 class machines. UNIX-SEAPAK operates only on SGI's Unix Workstation. Besides including most major programs in PC-SEAPAK to process CZCS and AVHRR
satellite data, Unix-SEAPAK also includes programs to handle ancillary data.
Note: The DAAC is a mirror site to shark.gsfc.nasa.gov. We do not support the maintenance and development of SEAPAK. We will provide timely updates and information to
directly contact the authors.
PC-SEAPAK runs on PC-AT, 386, or 486 class machines. UNIX-SEAPAK operates on SGI Unix Workstations only.
To be able to use all of PC-SEAPAK's graphics functions, you will need to have a Matrox graphics board installed on your PC. Even if you do not have this board, the whole
PC-SEAPAK package should be installed. It will work on a PC without the board but the you won't be able to run the display related programs. To request a non-graphical
version of PC-SEAPAK on diskettes, contact the Goddard DAAC Helpdesk: daacuso@daac.gsfc.nasa.gov.
Copies of the 350 page PC-SEAPAK User's Guide are available online and in hardcopy from the Goddard DAAC Helpdesk.
This documentation is intended to be used by both UNIX and PC customers and it is the only SEAPAK documentation
available from the Goddard DAAC.
PC-SEAPAK User Guide
PC-SEAPAK
- The PC version of SEAPAK is available through FTP.
 PC-SEAPAK directory
In this directory,
you will find four compressed files and one program to decompress those
files as well as three update files:
- seapak.zip
- The compressed
file that contains all the PC-SEAPAK version 4.0 programs data base file
(in 5-minute resolution)
- ciadb.zip
- The compressed
file that contains the eight CIA world data base files.
- pctoms.zip
- The compressed file that contains nine PCTOMS data base files.
- halo88.zip
- The compressed file that contains HALO88 font files and the driver
program for the MVP-AT image board
- pkunzip.exe
- The decompressing program to be used on PC to decompress those compressed zip
files.
These update files have to be restored (in any temporary directory using
'pkunzip') and installed (copied) IN ORDER into the SEAPAK directory after
you have installed the original PC-SEAPAK 4.0.
- update.zip
- update1.zip
- update2.zip
Download all of these files to the PC first. Then run PKUNZIP to
decompress all the ZIP files. Type PKUNZIP at the DOS prompt and you will
get a detailed description about how to use this command.
For example, to decompress all files in 'SEAPAK.ZIP' to the directory
'D:\SEAPAK', just type 'PKUNZIP SEAPAK.ZIP D:\SEAPAK'. All other compressed
files should be decompressed the same way. It is recommended that you
decompress different zip files into different directories. After all
compressed files are restored, you need set up the SEAPAK environmental
variable, modify SEAPAK.FIG file if necessary, run the programs SPKSETUP
and INIT.
For further information, read SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT: SOFTWARE section in
the PC-SEAPAK User's Guide.
UNIX-SEAPAK
- The UNIX version of SEAPAK is available through FTP.
UNIX-SEAPAK directory
The files 'ANNOUNCEMENT', 'README.SEAPAK.PLEASE!' in the UNIX SEAPAK directory
contain information about how to install UNIX-SEAPAK. Because there is no
UNIX-SEAPAK User's Guide available, UNIX SEAPAK users should request a copy
of the PC-SEAPAK User's Guide from the Goddard DAAC Helpdesk: help-disc@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
If you have any problem or need assistance with installing or using
SEAPAK, contact:
Gary Fu
301-286-7107
email: gfu@shark.gsfc.nasa.gov
For more information on scientific applications of the SEAPAK and DSP
image processing systems contact:
SEAPAK:
Dr. Charles McClain
SeaWiFS Project Scientist
email: mcclain@calval.gsfc.nasa.gov
DSP:
Dr. Robert Evans, University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine Sciences
email:
bob@ARWIN.rsmas.miami.edu
SeaDAS
SeaDAS was developed for the processing of SeaWiFS ocean color data in the HDF format. As CZCS Level 1a and Level 2 data has also
been converted to HDF, SeaDAS may also be used to process these data types. SeaDAS is a comprehensive image analysis package for processing, displaying,
analyzing, and performing quality control on all SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of vew Sensor) data products (L0, L1A, L2, L3 Binned, L3 SMI, L1A-, L2-, L3-Browse)
and ancillary data (Wind, Pressure, Humidity and OZONE) from NMC (National Meteorological Center and TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder). All
SeaDAS source code is freely available for download via FTP.
The use of SeaDAS requires an IDL license.
SeaDAS is being developed on the Silicon Graphics Inc.'s (SGI) Indigo2 and
has been successfully ported to a SUN Sparc 10 workstation. The Interactive
Data Language (IDL) from Research System Inc. (RSI) is used to build all
the GUI and display related programs in SeaDAS. It is REQUIRED for SeaDAS
and has to be purchased from RSI. The Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) libraries
from National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) is also required
to build certain SeaDAS programs. However since the necessary HDF libraries
(does not include HDF utilities) have been included in SeaDAS, the users
do not need to download it from NCSA. C, FORTRAN77, and IMAKE from the vendors
are required ONLY if you want to modify the source and rebuild the executable.
Other platforms and other versions of C and FORTRAN compiler have not been
ported or tested on the current version of SeaDAS. SeaDAS development team
will try to port SeaDAS to other platforms in the future. In the mean time,
since all the source codes are available, if any group is interesting in
porting SeaDAS to other platforms, the development team will be happy to
give any kind of assistance.
Recommended Hardware Configuration
- Platform: SGI Indigo2/SUN Sparc 10 or larger
- Memory: 96 MB
- Disk: 3 GB
- Tape Drive: 4MM(DAT) or 8mm Exabyte
- Display: 19" Console or X-terminal, 1280x1024 resolution, 8-bit, 256 colors
Software Requirements:
- Operating System: IRIX 5.3 (SGI) or Solaris 2.4 (SUN)
- Languages: C (SGI V3.19, SUN V 3.0.1), FORTRAN(SGI V 4.0.2, SUN V 3.0.1),
IDL 4.0.1
- Software Libraries: HDF 3.3r4p4 (included in SeaDAS)
SeaDAS is available for download via anonymous FTP from shark.gsfc.nasa.gov. The /seadas directory contains following compressed tar files:
- seadas_src.tar.Z : SeaDAS source codes only (does not include seadas_data.tar.Z)
- seadas_data.tar.Z : SeaDAS required data files for L1, L2, and L3 processing
- seadas_all.sgi.tar.Z : Complete SeaDAS (source and binary files) for SGI workstation (does not
include seadas_data.tar.Z)
- seadas_all_sun.tar.Z : Complete SeaDAS (source and binary files) for SUN workstation (does not
include seadas_data.tar.Z)
- seadas_demo.tar.Z : sample files for testing and demos
To download SeaDAS files, go to the SeaDAS ftp site.
We may also create SeaDAS on 4mm (DAT) or 8mm tape for those users who do
not have Internet access. Please send your request to seadas@shark.gsfc.nasa.gov.
After you get the SeaDAS compressed tar files, following the steps to install
it into your system.
1. Create SeaDAS root directory
mkdir seadas
2. Change to the SeaDAS root directory
cd seadas
3. Uncompress/extract SeaDAS application TAR file
zcat seadas_src.tar.Z | tar xvf -
OR zcat seadas_all.tar.Z | tar xvf - (for binary TAR)
4. Uncompress/extract SeaDAS data TAR file
(Required only for L1, L2, and L3 processing routines)
zcat seadas_data.tar.Z | tar xvf -
5. Run SeaDAS setup program
sds_setup
6. Activate setup file
source ./config/seadas.env
(this should be added to your .cshrc file)
*** If using seadas_src.tar.Z ***
* *
* 7. Prepare for installation *
* make pre_install *
* *
* 8. Make installation *
* make install *
* *
*** If using seadas_src.tar.Z ***
9. Start SeaDAS
seadas menu
For further information on SeaDAS, contact:
Dr. Charles R. McClain or Dr. Kevin Arrigo
SeaWiFS Project
Code 970.2
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
-
Goddard DAAC Ocean Color Data and Resources Website
Goddard DAAC
Helpdesk
Code 610.2
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt MD 20771 USA
help-disc@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
(301) 614-5224
(301) 614-5268 fax
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center DAAC
The Goddard DAAC is the central archive and distribution facility responsible for providing access to the entire CZCS data set.
The entire collection of Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) ocean color data and images is available on-line via the World Wide Web
in the Data Section of the NASA Goddard DAAC Ocean Color Data and Resources Website at
/OCDST/OB_main.html
Users may view Level 2 browse images of 59,337 CZCS files and place FTP or tape orders with the Goddard DAAC for those CZCS data products they desire. Each Level
2 browse file maps to corresponding Level 1 and 1a files. All Level 1a and 2 files are also available via anonymous ftp. CZCS Level 1 files are orderable via the Browser but
do not reside online due to the size of the Level 1 collection.
Archive of the CZCS data set at the Goddard DAAC is complete. Ocean Color website documentation and access development is also nearing completion. Future activities
will be dedicated to the support of SeaWiFs archive and distribution starting in calendar year 1997.
-
8mm tape (8200 and 8500 bpi)
4mm tape (60m and 90m)
Electronic transfer (ftp), files in DSP or HDF format
- Calibration: the adjustment or systematic standardization of the output of a quantitative measuring instrument or sensor.
Chlorophyll: any of a group of related pigments found in photosynthetic organisms.
Contemporaneous: originating, existing or happening during the same period of time.
Dynamic Range: the range between the maximum and minimum amount of input radiant energy that an instrument can measure.
Gelbstoff: Dissolved and suspended inorganic matter, commonly found in river discharge, which gives it a yellowish color. (from German: "yellow
substance").
Infrared Light: electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths longer than red light (7700 angstroms) but less than radio waves (~.1 meter).
Nadir: the point on the Earth directly below an orbiting satellite.
Photosynthesis: the process by which chlorophyll-containing cells in plants convert incident light to chemical energy and synthesize organic compounds
from inorganic compounds, especially carbohydrates, from carbon dioxide and water, with the simultaneous release of oxygen.
Phytoplankton: drifting, often microscopic, oceanic plants which conduct the process of photosynthesis.
Primary productivity: the rate at which organic carbon is produced photosynthetically.
Radiometer: a device that detects and measures electromagnetic radiation in discrete spectral bands of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
Spatial Resolution: the size of the smallest object recognizable using the detector.
Spectral Band: a narrow range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Spectral Response: the relative amplitude of the response of a detector vs. the frequency of incident electromagnetic radiation.
Visible Light: electromagnetic radiation with wavelength in the 3900 to 7700 angstrom range.
Zenith: the "sky" point located directly above an Earth-based sensor.
- AVHRR: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
CZCS: Coastal Zone Color Scanner
DST: Data Support Team
EOSDIS: Earth Observing System Data and Information System
ESDIS: EOSDIS Data and Information System
ESRIN: European Space Research Institute
IFOV: Instantaneous Field of View
MODIS: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
Nimbus: NASA Meteorological Satellites (1 through 7) [not an
acronym]
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SeaWiFS: Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor
Change History
- Version 2.0
- Version baselined on addition to the GES Controlled Documents List, Feb 18, 2000.
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Atmos Composition
