Satellite ocean color data for studying oceanic biogeochemical cycles

The ocean color mission, a spaceflight mission designed to provide daily, high precision, moderate resolution, multispectral visible observations of global ocean radiance for research in biogeochemical processes, climate change, and oceanography, is described. Data delivery will commence in autumn 1993. Data will be taken from an ocean color instrument in a near noon sun-synchronous orbit. Local, high-resolution data will be available by direct broadcast. Recorded, reduced resolution global data coverage and limited high resolution data will be transmitted to the Goddard Space Flight Center for analysis and distribution. The mission establishes a new paradigm for acquisition of satellite data: NASA will purchase data of a specified quality from a contractor to be selected by a competitive selection. The ocean color mission will provide the first observation of the bio-optical state of the global oceans with sufficient resolution and coverage in space and time to fully characterize the mean and variance of this aspect of the planet's biosphere.<>