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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 Sort descending | Version | Platforms | Instruments | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Optical Characterization Experiment (MOCE) | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 1992-08-08 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
|||
| Marlon Lewis drifting buoys 1992 | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 1992-08-28 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
|||
| Marmara Sea 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: 42.49986 S: 38.50841 E: 29.48958 W: 25.51042 |
2 Kilometers x 2 Kilometers | netCDF-4 |
| Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO) | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 2003-05-10 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
|||
| MASTER: Airborne Science, Western US, April, 2004 | 1 | NASA ER-2 | MASTER | 2004-04-01 to 2004-04-13 |
N: 45.089 S: 27.0591 E: -101.25 W: -129.375 |
multiple | |
| MASTER: Airborne Science, Western US, October, 2003 | 1 | NASA ER-2 | MASTER | 2003-10-03 to 2003-11-01 |
N: 47.6461 S: 29.5352 E: -106.875 W: -126.913 |
multiple | |
| MASTER: Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling Campaign, 2007 | 1.1 | NASA ER-2 | MASTER | 2007-07-29 to 2007-08-18 |
N: 40.98 S: -6.49964 E: -78.6917 W: -118.551 |
multiple | |
| Measurements across the Gulf Stream in 2007 | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 2007-03-21 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
|||
| Measurements along the Big Bend Wildlife Preservation area, Florida | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 2010-03-08 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
|||
| Measurements along the Massachusetts and Maine coast | 0 | BUOYS, MOORINGS, Water-based Platforms, AUVS, ROVS, Ships | 2007-04-26 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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