Ocean net primary production (ONPP) is defined as the rate of inorganic carbon uptake into the ocean biosphere, minus respiration. Biological processes, chiefly photosynthesis, can remove carbon from the dissolved inorganic ocean reservoir, providing an important potential sink for atmospheric carbon. This carbon flux into the ocean biosphere constitutes the base of the pelagic marine food web, directly affecting fishery productivity (Behrenfeld et al., 2002). As part of the Earth Observing System (EOS) science activities at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is applying models to remote sensing data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), aboard the Terra and the Aqua spacecraft, to compute two indices of ONPP. The key model input data for the ONPP models are 8 day (weekly) composite averages of the MODIS semi-analytic chlorophyll product (Chlor_a_3) and the MODIS daytime sea surface temperature (D1) in Integerized Sinusoidal Equal Area Grid (ISEAG) projection, at 4.63 km resolution. Both models also use photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) is derived from surface incident short-wave surface flux estimates provided by NASA's Data Assimilation Office (DAO). The PAR, which is provided in one degree, unprojected global observations for every 3 hours, is averaged over the MODIS weekly period of eight days. For the P2 model only, daily synoptic mixed-layer depth (MLD) at one degree resolution is provided by the U.S. Navy's Fleet Numeric Meteorology and Oceanography Center, and also averaged to the MODIS weekly period. This was extracted from http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/atbd/atbd_mod19.pdf being the parts relevant to the 4km mapped modis monthly mean chlorophyll, K_90, suspended solids and sea surface temperature data. MODIS datasest are routinely recalibrated as data collection algorithms and seasonal biases are refined by NASA over time.

Zooplankton biomass point data from southern Australian waters that has been mapped using MapInfo. Data collected from oceanographic surveys conducted between 1959 and 1964 onboard the vessels "Gascoyne" and "Diamantina". These MapInfo layers have been produced by CSIRO for the National Oceans Office, as part of an ongoing commitment to natural resource planning and management through the 'National Marine Bioregionalisation' project. Variations in onscreen colour representation or printed reproduction may affect perception of the contained data.

Primary production estimates were made using the uptake of radioactive carbon during a series of 27 research voyages from the naval frigates "Diamantina" and "Gascoyne" in the period 1959-1965. A variety of in-situ and simulated in-situ incubation techniques were used to produce the data sets. The data have been extracted from the CSIRO Division of Fisheries and Oceanography Oceanographical Cruise Reports and collated into an excel spreadsheet. The excel file has a series of Worksheets in it, with each worksheet containing information relevant to the data set. These worksheets list the research voyages included in the data set, the methods used to measure primary production on each cruise, station data, and the data arranged for mapping. In additional worksheets, the data has been shortened by depth, incubation period, and a real hourly and daily primary production. The data set is about 1.3 MB, and many of the stations included have zooplankton biomass data in the zooplankton file. This data has been produced by CSIRO for the National Oceans Office, as part of an ongoing commitment to natural resource planning and management through the 'National Marine Bioregionalisation' project.

Map showing annual mean ocean primary production extracted from global observations of ocean colour data from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). This map has been produced by CSIRO for the National Oceans Office, as part of an ongoing commitment to natural resource planning and management through the 'National Marine Bioregionalisation' project.

Primary Productivity point data from northern Australian waters that has been mapped using MapInfo. Data collected from oceanographic surveys 1959-1964 onboard the vessels "Gascoyne" and "Diamantina". Zooplankton biomass, milligrams per cubic metre. This GIS layer has been produced by CSIRO for the National Oceans Office, as part of an ongoing commitment to natural resource planning and management through the 'National Marine Bioregionalisation' project. Variations in onscreen colour representation or printed reproduction may affect perception of the contained data.

his movie file consists of a series of 8-day composite, 4 km resolution SeaWiFS surface chlorophyll images for the geographical area bounded by 90°E-180°E, and 10°N to 60°S. The data run from September 1997 until March 2001. Pixels where no usable data has been received are represented in black. A colour bar and calendar are included in the movie. Pixels where no usable data were received are represented by black dots. Accuracy is ± 20%. Each scene was captured as a gif image, and then assembled into a movie by Chris Rathbone, CSIRO Division of Marine Research Remote Sensing Group. The composite images were obtained from http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/ .