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MODIST_L3m_POC·v2022.0·dataset

Carbon particles floating in the ocean (Terra)

Terra MODIS Level-3 Global Mapped Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) Data, version 2022.0
ocean NASA OB_CLOUD Level 3 active netCDF-4
In plain English

What it measures. The concentration of tiny carbon-containing particles floating near the ocean surface, given as a global map.

How it's made. Derived from the color of light leaving the ocean as seen by the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite, then mapped onto a regular global grid.

How & where you'd use it. Estimating how much carbon the surface ocean holds, supporting studies of how oceans store and move carbon, and giving ecological context alongside other ocean measurements.

What's measured

Oceans › Ocean Chemistry › Organic 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 Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) data suite includes product of particulate organic carbon concentration from ocean-color reflectance. POC is widely used to quantify surface carbon stocks, support biogeochemical and export-flux studies, and provide ecological context alongside chlor_a, bbp, Kd_490, and SST. Geophysical variables in this suite include: - poc - Particulate Organic Carbon (mg C m⁻³), D. Stramski, 2007 (443/555 version)

Get the data

modist_l3m_poc_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="MODIST_L3m_POC",
    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.