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Full catalog/MODIST_L3m_PIC_NRT
MODIST_L3m_PIC_NRT·v2022.0·dataset

Chalky carbon particles in the ocean, near-real-time (Terra)

Terra MODIS Level-3 Global Mapped Particulate Inorganic Carbon (PIC) - Near Real-time (NRT) Data, version 2022.0
ocean NASA OB_CLOUD Level 3 active netCDF-4
In plain English

What it measures. The concentration in the ocean of tiny chalky particles made of calcite, mostly shed by microscopic plankton called coccolithophores, delivered as a quick near-real-time snapshot.

How it's made. Calculated from ocean-color light measured by the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite, using a published algorithm; this near-real-time version uses best-available rather than final inputs.

How & where you'd use it. Helps detect and measure coccolithophore blooms and study the ocean's carbon and carbonate cycle; readings are less reliable in murky coastal waters or under heavy haze.

What's measured

Oceans › Ocean Chemistry › Inorganic CarbonOCEANS › OCEAN CHEMISTRY › CARBONOCEANS › OCEAN OPTICS

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2000-02-24 → ongoing
  • Measured byTerra (MODIS)
  • Processing levelLevel 3
  • Spatial extent-180, -90, 180, 90
  • FormatsnetCDF-4
  • StatusACTIVE

What you can do with it

  • Watch sea-surface temperature and marine heatwaves
  • Spot algal blooms and ocean-colour shifts
  • Support fisheries and coastal monitoring
Official description

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 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)

Get the data

modist_l3m_pic_nrt_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="MODIST_L3m_PIC_NRT",
    version="2022.0",
    bounding_box=(-122.5, 37.2, -121.8, 37.9),  # your area (W,S,E,N)
    temporal=("2024-01-01", "2024-12-31"),       # your dates
)
files = earthaccess.open(results)   # stream straight from OB_CLOUD
Browsing CMR needs no login. Downloading or streaming bytes needs a free Earthdata Login + the earthaccess package.