ESA services for Ocean Color missions

The European Space Agency (ESA/ESRIN) has collected Ocean Color data between 1978 and 1986 with the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) over European and North West Africa waters. The Ocean Color data collection was restarted in August 1997 with IRS-P3-MOS and in September 1997 with SeaWiFS. The OCTS data have been received from NASDA and are archived in ESRIN, MODIS data reception over Europe and West Africa is under preparation this activity is intended to support the European Ocean Color user community in preparation of the exploitation of MERIS the first ESA ocean colour mission to be launched on board Envisat in 2000.