Seascape Pelagic Habitat Classification

MBON Seascapes identifies spatially explicit water masses with particular biogeochemical features using a model and satellite-derived measurements.  The seascape product is generated as monthly and 8-day composites at 5 km spatial resolution

    Data Access
    Map of Global Seascape classifications

    The US and global Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) partnered with the US Integrated Ocean Observation System (IOOS), NOAA/OAR/AOML and NOAA/NESDIS/STAR to develop and routinely generate this Seascape Pelagic Habitat Classification product (MBON Seascapes) and make it available on CoastWatch.  Derived from dynamic fields of satellite and modelled data, MBON Seascapes are classified and used as a biogeographical framework to describe dynamic, changing ocean habitats for MBON and other applications. MBON Seascapes provide information about the quality and extent of different oceanographic habitats or features and can be used to assess and predict the different planktonic and fisheries communities that reside within seascapes. Current MBON Seascapes products include monthly and 8-day time steps at 5 km resolution.  High resolution (1 km) case studies are planned on a case by case basis through cooperation with US and global MBON partners.

    MBON Seascapes identifies spatially explicit water masses with particular biogeochemical features using a model and satellite-derived measurements.  The seascape product is generated as monthly and 8-day composites at 5 km spatial resolution.

     

    Table of Seascape ID number definitions.  SST, sea surface temperature; SSS sea surface salinity; ADT, absolute dynamic topography; ICE, Ice; CDOM, chromophoric dissolved organic material; CHLA, chlorophyll-a; NFLH, normalized fluorescent line height; NaN, not a number.

    Table of Seascape ID number definitions
    Table of Seascape ID number definitions

     

    Short Names
    seascapes
    Temporal Coverage

    Monthly and 8-Day

    Product Families
    Seascape Classification
    Measurements
    Pelagic Seascape Classification
    Processing Levels
    Level 4
    Latency Groups
    24+ hours (Delayed)
    Spatial Resolution Groups
    2km+
    Spatial Resolution Details

    5 km

    Data Providers
    NOAA
    NESDIS
    STAR
    CoastWatch
    Spatial Coverage

    Global

    Description

    180W - 180E
    90N - 90S

    Aqua

    Description

    Earth Observation System - Aqua

    Platform Type
    Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    NASA
    Orbital Altitude
    705 km
    Equatorial Crossing Times
    13:30 asc

    DMSP

    Description

    Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
     

    Platform Type
    Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    DoD
    NOAA
    Orbital Altitude
    850 km
    Orbital Period
    101.8 min
    Orbital Inclination
    98.9°
    Equatorial Crossing Times
    06:36 desc

    GOES-East

    Description

    Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - East

    Platform Type
    Geostationary Earth Orbit Satellite (GEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    NASA
    NOAA
    Orbital Longitude
    75.2° W
    Orbital Altitude
    35786 km

    GOES-West

    Description

    Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - West
     

    Platform Type
    Geostationary Earth Orbit Satellite (GEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    NASA
    NOAA
    Orbital Longitude
    137.2°W
    Orbital Altitude
    35786 km

    NOAA

    Description

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21

    Platform Type
    Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    NASA
    NOAA
    Orbital Altitude
    834 km
    Equatorial Crossing Times
    13:25 asc

    Terra

    Description

    Earth Observation System - Terra

    Platform Type
    Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO)
    Instruments
    Organizations
    NASA
    Orbital Altitude
    705 km
    Equatorial Crossing Times
    10:30 desc

    ABI

    Description

    Advanced Baseline Imager

    Platforms
    Instrument Types
    Imager
    Organizations
    NOAA

    GOES Imager

    Description

    GOES IMAGER (GOES 12-15)
     

    Platforms
    Instrument Types
    Imager
    Organizations
    NOAA

    MODIS

    Description

    Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer

    Platforms
    Instrument Types
    Imager
    Organizations
    NASA

    SSMIS

    Description

    Special Sensor Microwave - Imager/Sounder

    Platforms
    Instrument Types
    Imager
    Sounder
    Organizations
    DoD

    VIIRS

    Description

    Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite

    Platforms
    Instrument Types
    Imager
    Organizations
    NASA
    • Montes Enrique, Djurhuus Anni, Muller-Karger Frank E., Otis Daniel, Kelble Christopher R., Kavanaugh Maria T., 2020. Dynamic Satellite Seascapes as a Biogeographic Framework for Understanding Phytoplankton Assemblages in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, United States. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7,  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00575
    • Kavanaugh, M.T., Church, M.J., Davis, C.O., Karl, D.M., Letelier, R.M. and Doney, S.C., 2018. ALOHA from the Edge: Reconciling three decades of in situ Eulerian observations and geographic variability in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Frontiers in Marine Science5, p.130.
    • Muller-Karger, F., Digna Rueda-Roa, Francisco Chavez, Maria Kavanaugh, and Mitchell A. Roffer. 2017. Megaregions Among the Large Marine Ecosystems of the Americas. Environmental Development. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2017.01.005.
    • Kavanaugh, M.T., Oliver, M J., Chavez, F. P., Letelier, R.M., Muller-Karger, F.E., Doney, S.C. 2016. Seascapes as a new vernacular for ocean monitoring, management and conservation. ICES Journal of Marine Science. doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsw086.
    • Kavanaugh, M.T., Hales, B., Saraceno, M., Spitz, Y.H., White, A.E. and Letelier, R.M., 2014. Hierarchical and dynamic seascapes: A quantitative framework for scaling pelagic biogeochemistry and ecology. Progress in Oceanography120, pp.291-304.
    • Muller-Karger, F.E., M.T. Kavanaugh, E. Montes, W.M. Balch, M. Breitbart, F.P. Chavez, S.C. Doney, E.M. Johns, R.M. Letelier, M.W. Lomas, H.M. Sosik, and A.E. White. 2014. A framework for a marine biodiversity observing network within changing continental shelf seascapes. Oceanography 27(2):18–23, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2014.56.

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