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Ocean Data Access and Tools
NASA data span the geophysical parameters that characterize the global ocean and the physical processes operating within its depths and at its surface. Our datasets and tools help researchers translate these interconnected data points into actionable knowledge.
Ocean Datasets
| Dataset | Version Sort ascending | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RapidScat Level 2B Climate Ocean Wind Vectors in 12.5km Footprints | 1.0 | ISS | RapidScat | 2014-10-03 to 2016-08-19 |
N: 61 S: -61 E: 180 W: -180 |
12.5 Kilometers x 12.5 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| SWOT 2019-2020 Prelaunch Oceanography Field Campaign SIO Moored Fixed-Depth CTDs | 1.0 | MOORINGS | CTD | 2019-09-05 to 2020-01-18 |
N: 36.2 S: 35.8 E: -125 W: -125.2 |
netCDF-4 | |
| GHRSST Level 4 RAMSSA_9km Australian Regional Foundation Sea Surface Temperature Analysis v1.0 dataset (GDS2) | 1.0 | BUOYS, Suomi-NPP, NOAA-20, GCOM-W1, METOP-A, METOP-B, NCEP GTS, Ships | DRIFTING BUOYS, CTD, XBT, VIIRS, AMSR2, AVHRR-3, TEMPERATURE PROBES | 2006-06-12 to Present |
N: 20 S: -70 E: 180 W: 60 N: 20 S: -70 E: 180 W: 60 |
0.083 Decimal Degrees x 0.083 Decimal Degrees | netCDF-4 |
| NOAA GHRSST Level 2P Indian Ocean Regional Skin Sea Surface Temperature v1.0 from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) on the Meteosat Second Generation-1 (MSG-1) satellite | 1.0 | MSG | SEVIRI | 2018-09-18 to 2022-06-01 |
N: 73 S: -73 E: 81 W: -81 |
3000 Meters x 3000 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| SWOT Level 2 Nadir Altimeter Interim Geophysical Data Record with Waveforms - SSHA, Version 1.0 | 1.0 | SWOT | Jason-class Altimeter, AMR | 2022-12-16 |
N: 77.6 S: -77.6 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 | |
| GHRSST Level 2P 1 m Depth Global Sea Surface Temperature from VIIRS on Suomi NPP (GDS2) V1 | 1.0 | Suomi-NPP | VIIRS | 2013-05-20 to 2016-02-25 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
750 Meters x 750 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| Waveglider data for the SPURS-1 N. Atlantic field campaign | 1.0 | Waveglider | CTD, MMS, CURRENT METERS | 2012-09-01 to 2013-03-25 |
N: 42 S: 23 E: -37 W: -71 |
1 Meters x 1 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| Southern Ocean Pre-SWOT Level-4 Hourly MITgcm LLC4320 Native Grid 2km Oceanographic Dataset Version 1.0 | 1.0 | MITgcm | Computer | 2011-09-13 to 2012-11-15 |
N: -53 S: -57.5 E: 158 W: 148 |
2 Kilometers x 2 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| GHRSST Level 2P Global 1m Sea Surface Temperature from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on the NOAA-18 satellite produced by NAVO | 1.0 | NOAA-19 | AVHRR-3 | 2013-09-24 to 2018-05-14 |
N: 80 S: -70 E: 180 W: -180 |
8800 Meters x 8800 Meters | netCDF-4 |
| OMG Narwhals oceanographic data from moorings, 2018-2020 | 1.0 | MOORINGS | CTD, TEMPERATURE LOGGERS | 2018-08-01 to 2020-08-31 |
N: 76.103817 S: 75.841817 E: -58.410533 W: -61.726983 |
netCDF-4 |
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Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Platform
SWOT provides detailed surface topography and monitors water body changes over time. The platform enables high-resolution ocean monitoring at 15-150 km spatial scales, tracking ocean currents, coastal dynamics, storm surges, and regional sea level changes. On land, SWOT measures water storage changes in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands, supporting river discharge estimates for water resource assessment.
Researchers explore using SWOT data to derive two-dimensional estimates of sea ice thickness.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Swath Visualizer provides a visualization of two instruments’ coverage of Earth's surface: the Ka-band Radar Interferometer and altimeter.
SWOT presents opportunities and challenges in characterizing sea surface height anomalies.
Ocean Data Tools
| Tool Sort descending | Description | Services | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaDAS | Sea, earth, atmosphere Data Analysis System (SeaDAS) is a comprehensive image analysis package for the processing, display, analysis, and quality control of ocean color data. | Analysis, Visualization, Processing | |
| SOTO | State of the Ocean (SOTO) is an interactive web-based tool that generates informative maps, animations, and plots that communicate and prove the discovery and analysis of the state of the oceans. | Analysis, Search and Discovery, Visualization | |
| STREAM | STREAM is a rapid water quality monitoring tool that processes satellite imagery to create maps showing chlorophyll-a, Total Suspended Solids, and water clarity at 20-30 meter resolution. | Processing | |
| SWOT Swath Visualizer | The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Swath Visualizer provides a visualization of two instruments’ coverage of Earth's surface: the Ka-band Radar Interferometer and altimeter. | Analysis, Data Curation, Visualization | |
| Worldview | Worldview offers the capability to interactively browse over 1,200 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and download the underlying data. | Analysis, Search and Discovery, Visualization, Access, Comparison, Monitoring Natural Events |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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