The global ocean covers more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface and contains 97 percent of the planet’s water. Data collected by NASA’s Earth-observing instruments help scientists understand how the ocean supports a vast diversity of life, regulates the climate, provides a large amount of the planet’s oxygen, and stores an abundance of carbon dioxide.
Our data products include information about ocean processes including ocean circulation and surface winds; heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, including sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, and sea surface height; and factors impacting water quality, including turbidity, chlorophyll concentrations, and colored dissolved organic matter. In addition, our ocean data provide optical information that aids in assessing trends in global mean sea level.
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