Total Suspended Matter (ESA, Monthly)

The Total Suspended Matter (TSM) dataset shows the concentration of inorganic particulate matter in seawater in grams per cubic meter (g/m³). The specific data products shown on Resource Watch originate with the Ocean Land Color Instrument [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/user-guides/sentinel-3-olci] B (OLCI B), a sensor carried by the Sentinel-3B satellite [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-3]. An equivalent product for Sentinel-3A is available from the provider. This monthly and 8-day global products have a resolution of 1/24 degrees (°) at the equator (about 4.63 kilometers); between the two satellites, the time series run back to 2016. Like all similar GlobColour datasets [https://www.globcolour.info/products_description.html], monthly and 8-day "Level-3" TSM is derived from the accumulated data of the daily Level-2 product [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/technical-guides/sentinel-3-olci/level-2/ocean-processing] across that month. In the case of TSM, the monthly values represent a simple average of the daily values.

TSM is a measure of turbidity: the haziness of a liquid due to suspended particles. Runoff water can carry clay, silt, and other matter from land into the ocean. As the turbidity of water increases, it becomes denser and less clear due to a higher concentration of these light-blocking particles. This in turn can have a wide variety of effects including: reduced sunlight reaching plants and animals, affecting the growth of plankton; increased water temperatures and altered transportation of heat through the water column; and decreased visibility.

Ocean color is an "essential climate variable" needed to support the carbon cycle monitoring requirements of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) [https://unfccc.int/]. It is also a climate variable that cannot be globally monitored without using satellite observations. In order to cover the long time span necessary for climate monitoring purposes, the required ocean color dataset can only be built by merging together observations made with different satellite systems. The GlobColour project started in 2005 to provide a continuous dataset of merged Level-3 Ocean Colour products [https://www.globcolour.info/CDR_Docs/GlobCOLOUR_PUG.pdf]. Merging outputs from different sensors ensures data continuity, improves spatial and temporal coverage, and reduces data noise.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Source https://app.mapx.org/static.html?views=MX-QWMTX-GCUQ1-CHGIK&zoomToViews=true#JAAc6
Author UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Maintainer UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Last Updated December 7, 2022, 08:16 (UTC)
Created December 7, 2022, 08:16 (UTC)
GUID MX-QWMTX-GCUQ1-CHGIK
Issued 2022-03-22 20:51:25
Language EN
Modified 2022-04-28 15:14:40
Publisher email info@mapx.org
Publisher name UNEP/GRID-Geneva
Theme Web Map
data_type geospatial
keywords_m49 WLD
projects_description This project was set up in the frame of the implementation of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat’s 2020/2021 work plan and budget approved by the Sixteenth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region held from July 28-30, 2021
projects_id MX-L2W-HWZ-RIC-LM1-Y0V
projects_title Caribbean Sea and Wider Caribbean Region
range_end_at_year 2022
range_start_at_year 2009
source_abstract The Total Suspended Matter (TSM) dataset shows the concentration of inorganic particulate matter in seawater in grams per cubic meter (g/m³). The specific data products shown on Resource Watch originate with the Ocean Land Color Instrument [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/user-guides/sentinel-3-olci] B (OLCI B), a sensor carried by the Sentinel-3B satellite [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/missions/sentinel-3]. An equivalent product for Sentinel-3A is available from the provider. This monthly and 8-day global products have a resolution of 1/24 degrees (°) at the equator (about 4.63 kilometers); between the two satellites, the time series run back to 2016. Like all similar GlobColour datasets [https://www.globcolour.info/products_description.html], monthly and 8-day "Level-3" TSM is derived from the accumulated data of the daily Level-2 product [https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/technical-guides/sentinel-3-olci/level-2/ocean-processing] across that month. In the case of TSM, the monthly values represent a simple average of the daily values. TSM is a measure of turbidity: the haziness of a liquid due to suspended particles. Runoff water can carry clay, silt, and other matter from land into the ocean. As the turbidity of water increases, it becomes denser and less clear due to a higher concentration of these light-blocking particles. This in turn can have a wide variety of effects including: reduced sunlight reaching plants and animals, affecting the growth of plankton; increased water temperatures and altered transportation of heat through the water column; and decreased visibility. Ocean color is an "essential climate variable" needed to support the carbon cycle monitoring requirements of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) [https://unfccc.int/]. It is also a climate variable that cannot be globally monitored without using satellite observations. In order to cover the long time span necessary for climate monitoring purposes, the required ocean color dataset can only be built by merging together observations made with different satellite systems. The GlobColour project started in 2005 to provide a continuous dataset of merged Level-3 Ocean Colour products [https://www.globcolour.info/CDR_Docs/GlobCOLOUR_PUG.pdf]. Merging outputs from different sensors ensures data continuity, improves spatial and temporal coverage, and reduces data noise.
source_title Total Suspended Matter (ESA, Monthly)
spatial WLD