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NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) platform measures the distribution of phytoplankton, a key indicator of ocean health.
PACE's primary instrument is the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), a highly advanced optical spectrometer that measures properties of light over portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. OCI enables continuous measurement of light at finer wavelength resolution than previous NASA instruments, extending key system ocean color data records for climate studies.
Type
Earth Observation Satellite
Data Center
OB.DAAC
Launch
February 8, 2024
Objective
Study the health of Earth's climate and ocean
Instruments Aboard PACE
| Instrument Name | Operational Date(s) | Spectral Resolution | Type of Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 (HARP2) | April 11, 2024 - present | 441, 549, 669, 873 nm |
Photon/Optical Detector |
| Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) | April 11, 2024 - present | 340 nm - 895 nm UV - near-infrared; 940, 1038, 1250, 1378, 1615, 2130, 2260 nm; shortwave - infrared, (315 nm - 340 nm provided but degraded) |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
| Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration one (SPEXone ) | April 11, 2024 - present | 385-770 nm |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
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