Editing SeaWiFS (section)

==Data access==
[[File:Feb 05 1999 argentina.jpg|thumbnail|A false color SeaWiFS image shows a high concentration of phytoplankton chlorophyll in the Brazil Current Confluence region east of Argentina. Warm colors indicate high chlorophyll levels, and cooler colors indicate lower chlorophyll.]]
SeaWiFS data are freely accessible from a variety of websites, most of which are government run. The primary location for SeaWiFS data is NASA's OceanColor website [https://web.archive.org/web/20170118185241/https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/], which maintains the time series of the entire SeaWiFS mission.  The website allows users to browse individual SeaWiFS images based on time and area selections. The website also allows for browsing of different temporal and spatial scales with spatial scales ranging from 4&nbsp;km to 9&nbsp;km for mapped data. Data are provided at numerous temporal scales including daily, multiple days (e.g., 3, 8), monthly, and seasonal images, all the way up to composites of the entire mission. Data are also available via ftp and bulk download.

Data can be browsed and retrieved in a variety of formats and levels of processing, with four general levels from unprocessed to modeled output.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/PRODUCTS/product_level_desc.html|title=Product Level Descriptions|work=Ocean ColorWeb|access-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203050807/http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/PRODUCTS/product_level_desc.html|archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> Level 0 is unprocessed data that is not usually provided to users. Level 1 data are reconstructed but either unprocessed or minimally processed. Level 2 data contain derived geophysical variables, though are not on a uniform space/time grid. Level 3 data contain derived geophysical variables binned or mapped to a uniform grid.  Lastly, Level 4 data contain modeled or derived variables such as ocean [http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/ocean.productivity/ primary productivity ].

Scientists who aim to create calculations of chlorophyll or other parameters that differ from those provided on the OceanColor website would likely use Level 1 or 2 data. This might be done, for example, to calculate parameters for a specific region of the globe, whereas the standard SeaWiFS data products are designed for global accuracy with necessary tradeoffs for specific regions. Scientists who are more interested in relating the standard SeaWiFS outputs to other processes will commonly use Level 3 data, particularly if they do not have the capacity, training, or interest in working with Level 1 or 2 data. Level 4 data may be used for similar research if interested in a modeled product.