The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) was launched aboard the Nimbus-7
satellite in late 1978. The CZCS failed in mid-1986, but Nimbus-7 and
some of its sensors continue to function. The CZCS was designed as an
experimental sensor with four channels in the visible portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum, one channel in the near-infrared, and one
channel in the infrared. The latter channel failed early in the mission.
As 80-90% of the signal detected by the CZCS originated in the
atmosphere, considerable research was devoted towards atmospheric
correction. As chlorophyll levels increase, the color of the water
shifts from blue to green. Under optimal conditions, the CZCS could
estimate chlorophyll concentrations (the light-harvesting pigment in
phytoplankton) to within 30%.
This site presents CZCS
chlorophyll imagery for the Southern Ocean, as well as related imagery of
physical water properties. The
types of Southern Ocean images available from this site include: CZCS
chlorophyll
hydrographic atlas (temperature, salinity, and oxygen)
wind fields
sea surface temperature Data
files can be downloaded for: CZCS
chlorophyll
hydrographic atlas (temperature, salinity, and oxygen)
 Webpage
by Jasmine S. Bartlett and
Luana De Grood, Oregon State University. |