The Ocean Biology DAAC produces near real-time (NRT) products using the best-available combination of ancillary data from meteorological and ozone data. As such, the inputs and the calibration used are less than optimal. Near real-time products provide a snapshot of the data during a short time period within a single orbit.

The Net Primary Production Carbon, Absorption, Fluorescence Euphotic-resolving (NPP_CAFE) data suite includes estimates of oceanic net primary production derived from ocean-color observations using the Carbon, Absorption, Fluorescence Euphotic-resolving (CAFE) model. The CAFE model combines satellite-derived optical properties with phytoplankton physiology, light availability, and photosynthetic processes to estimate the rate of carbon fixation by marine phytoplankton. NPP_CAFE products are used to assess ocean productivity, ecosystem health, carbon cycling, biological responses to environmental variability, and the role of phytoplankton in the global carbon cycle.

Geophysical variables in this suite include:

• npp_cafe — Net primary productivity of biomass expressed as carbon (mg m⁻² day⁻¹)