The Ocean Biology DAAC produces near real-time (NRT) products using the best-available combination of ancillary data from meteorological and ozone data. As such, the inputs and the calibration used are less than optimal. Near real-time products provide a snapshot of the data during a short time period within a single orbit.

The Trace Gas Concentrations (TRGAS) suite provides key atmospheric column constituents. These trace-gas fields support both atmospheric science (e.g., air-quality and chemistry studies) and ocean-color atmospheric correction. Users should apply the quality and L2 flags to screen cloud effects, high solar-zenith conditions, and other retrieval issues before analysis.

Geophysical variables in this suite include:

• total_column_no2 – total vertical column nitrogen dioxide (molecules cm⁻²)
• total_column_o3– total vertical column ozone (Dobson units)
  • l2_flags – processing flags (dimensionless)
  • no2_bit_flags – NO₂ processing flags (dimensionless)
  • quality_no2 – NO₂ quality flags (dimensionless)
  • o3_bit_flags – O₃ processing flags (dimensionless)
  • quality_o3 – O₃ quality flags (dimensionless)