The Particulate Inorganic Carbon (PIC) data suite includes product of particulate inorganic carbon (calcite, typically from coccolithophores) from ocean-color reflectance using the Balch & Gordon algorithm. PIC is used to detect and quantify coccolithophore blooms, assess carbonate cycling and optical backscatter, and provide biogeochemical context alongside chlor_a, Kd_490, PAR, and SST. As with all ocean-color retrievals, uncertainties increase in optically complex coastal/inland waters or under high aerosol/glint; users should refer to per-mission algorithm notes and quality flags before analysis.

Geophysical variables in this suite include:

• pic — Particulate Inorganic Carbon (Calcite concentration, Balch and Gordon) (mol m⁻³)