An Ocean-Colour Time Series for Use in Climate Studies: The Experience of the Ocean-Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI)

Ocean colour is recognised as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS); and spectrally-resolved water-leaving radiances (or remote-sensing reflectances) in the visible domain, and chlorophyll-a concentration are identified as required ECV products. Time series of the products at the global scale and at high spatial resolution, derived from ocean-colour data, are key to studying the dynamics of phytoplankton at seasonal and inter-annual scales; their role in marine biogeochemistry; the global carbon cycle; the modulation of how phytoplankton distribute solar-induced heat in the upper layers of the ocean; and the response of the marine ecosystem to climate variability and…

• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• ES
  European Space Agency

  Award: 4000101437/10/I-LG
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: pml010008, nceo020006, pml010009
• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 810139
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: PR140015, pml010009, nceo020006, pml010008
• NC
  National Centre for Earth Observation

  Award: PR140015