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Full catalog/PACE_OCI_L3M_RRS
PACE_OCI_L3M_RRS·v3.1·dataset

How the ocean reflects sunlight, world map (PACE)

PACE OCI Level-3 Global Mapped Remote-Sensing Reflectance (RRS) Data, version 3.1
ocean NASA OB_CLOUD Level 3 active netCDF-4
In plain English

What it measures. A global map of how strongly the ocean reflects sunlight at each wavelength, the basic optical signal of the water just below the surface.

How it's made. Produced from the PACE satellite's Ocean Color Instrument and gridded into a worldwide map of remote-sensing reflectance.

How & where you'd use it. The foundational measurement from which other ocean products (like chlorophyll and water clarity) are derived, so it's mostly used as a building block and for algorithm development and validation.

What's measured

Oceans › Ocean Optics › Reflectance

Coverage & cadence

  • Time span2024-03-05 → ongoing
  • Measured byPACE (OCI)
  • 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 Remote Sensing Reflectance (RRS) suite provides the remote sensing reflectance at wavelength λ (nm)—the ratio of water-leaving radiance to downwelling irradiance just above the surface (units sr⁻¹). Variables are named by their band center (e.g., Rrs_412, Rrs_443). Rrs_λ is the foundational observable used to retrieve products such as chlor_a, Kd_490, IOPs, and to support algorithm development, validation, water-quality, and ecosystem applications. Users should review per-file quality flags (e.g., land, cloud, sun glint, high aerosol) and mission documentation—especially in optically complex coastal/inland waters. Geophysical variables in this suite include: - Rrs — Remote sensing reflectance (sr⁻¹)

Get the data

pace_oci_l3m_rrs_access.py
import earthaccess
earthaccess.login(strategy="netrc")          # free Earthdata Login

results = earthaccess.search_data(
    short_name="PACE_OCI_L3M_RRS",
    version="3.1",
    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.