Products

NEODAAS is able to offer a variety of products derived from Earth Observation data to researchers either from data we are routinely processing at PML, or which we acquire from external sources such as the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS). We are also able to generate custom products if no existing products are suitable.

Projects we are routinely processing are available to view via our portal, for all other products we offer a ‘request’ system open to all researchers eligible for NERC funding.

Request Processing

Due to the role of NEODAAS in supporting research we have provided a variety of custom products in the past. The following is a selection of some products we have previously generated:

A false colour composite of the Klang Islands, Malaysia. At infra-red wavelengths differences between mangroves and plantation are more obvious
Above: A false colour composite of the Klang Islands, Malaysia. At infra-red wavelengths differences between mangroves and plantation are more obvious

High Resolution Optical Data

Previously NEODAAS have supplied high resolution optical data from Sentinel 2 and Landsat 8 to support researchers and the media. Data can be provided as files suitable for use in a GIS or high resolution images suitable for use in print.

 

Hyperspectral data shown as false colour composite to emphasise vegetation in red (left) and LiDAR derived canopy height model.
Above: Hyperspectral data shown as false colour composite to emphasise vegetation in red (left) and LiDAR derived canopy height model.

Airborne Data Processing

NEODAAS are able to process data collected by digital cameras, imaging spectrometers and full waveform LiDAR. This includes processing of raw data from new collections and additional processing, such as atmospheric correction, from archive data. More details on airborne data processing are available from: https://nerc-arf-dan.pml.ac.uk/

Figure 1: 1997-2020 chlorophyll-a time series of daily and 30-day rolling averages for the L4 (top), E1 (centre) and Channel (bottom) areas.
Above: Figure 1: 1997-2020 chlorophyll-a time series of daily and 30-day rolling averages for the L4 (top), E1 (centre) and Channel (bottom) areas.

Satellite Indicators

NEODAAS has developed a suite of satellite indicators, from key biogeochemical variables, representative of the status of the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. These indicators can be explored to inform regional analysis, add context to short-term trends and specific events, and highlight potential correlations between biogeochemical and physical variables.
 
The NEODAAS Satellite Indicators Suite is currently composed of: 

  • Time series – the average values of a variable for a region of interest. For variables that present a distinct seasonality, such as chlorophyll concentration, annual cycles can be extracted from the original signal.
  • Anomalies – computed by subtracting a reference value from the observations. Climatologies provide a measure of the typical annual cycle and can be used to derive daily anomaly time series that reveal changes in the timing and amplitude of seasonal peaks.
  • Trends – increases or decreases in a variable over a long period of time, accounting for the seasonal and interannual components of the signal. 

While these products can be valuable to industry, governmental agencies, policymakers and the general public, the NEODAAS Satellite Indicators Suite is targeted towards researchers wishing to incorporate data from longer time series or wider spatial extents into their studies, supporting models and/or in situ measurements, to help optimise the impact of their work.

For more details on the NEODAAS Satellite Indicators Suite, with particular focus on the Ocean Indicators, please visit the news article or refer to the full report published on Zenodo. Similar techniques can be expanded to indicators for terrestrial and freshwater systems so please contact us if you are interested in discussing.
 

Routine Processing

The following products are routinely processed by NEODAAS for key areas (including the UK) and are normally available in less than 12 hours after the satellite acquisition:

Map showing weekly Chlorophyll-a concentration produced by combining data from the OLCI sensor onboard Sentinel 3A and Sentinel 3B
Above: Map showing weekly Chlorophyll-a concentration produced by combining data from the OLCI sensor onboard Sentinel 3A and Sentinel 3B

Ocean Colour and Derived Products

Ocean colour data provide information on near sea surface phytoplankton chlorophyll-a concentration (chl-a), turbidity (Kd490) and visibility. They show physical phenomena such as eddies, fronts and current boundaries.

The remote sensing group at PML has world-leading expertise in ocean colour developed through decades of research which regional specific algorithms and novel products as well as production of long time series data, such as the European Space Agency Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) product.

The key sensors currently used by NEODAAS for ocean colour products are: the OLCI Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI), carried on Sentinel 3A and SB, and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), carried on the Suomi and NOAA-20 satellites.

Composite thermal front map derived from AVHRR data
Above: Composite thermal front map derived from AVHRR data

Sea Surface Temperature and Thermal Fronts

Sea surface temperature (SST) data are used to observe physical phenomena such as currents, fronts, and eddies. SST is an important factor controlling biological activity or influencing animal behaviour.

Using a method developed by Dr Peter Miller NEODAAS are able to produce maps of fronts derived from SST data which have been used for modelling the distribution of various marine animals that feed near the ocean surface.

The key sensors currently used by NEODAAS for SST products are the Advanced Very-High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), carried on a series of satellites, and the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) carried on Sentinel 3A and 3B.

 

Above: Natural colour composite from 26th February 2022 at midday showing full extent of area covered by MSG SEVIRI.
Above: Above: Natural colour composite from 26th February 2022 at midday showing full extent of area covered by MSG SEVIRI.

Geostationary Data Reception and Processing

Using a EUMETCast receiver located on the roof of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory building, NEODAAS receives near-real-time imagery from ESA’s MSG geostationary satellite. Data are usually received within 15 minutes of acquisition and subsequently processed into usable images by us, typically the next day with faster processing available depending on user requirements.

The instrument on board is called SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager) and provides 12 radiometric channels that can be used to determine physical parameters that include:

  • aerosol optical depth & soil moisture
  • tropospheric water vapour absorption
  • atmospheric ozone content
  • sea surface temperature

The data are provided on the GEOS projection (centred on 0° Longitude) and has a nominal pixel resolution of 3km x 3km at the nadir (directly below the satellite) and stretching to around 11km x 11km at the extremes.
 

Black and white satellite image showing radar backscatter
Above: Sentinel 1 Radar backscatter image showing a) bright features corresponding to shallow sand banks, b) an off-shore windfarm; reflections from the turbine blades are visible if you zoom right in. c) atmospheric waves changing the surface roughness of the water.

Radar Backscatter from Sentinel-1

Backscatter from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide information on surface conditions, vessels and static structures in the water. As SAR uses longer wavelengths and is an active sensor it is insensitive to cloud cover and illumination conditions.