China Coastal Phytoplankton Absorption Coefficient (2003-2022)

This dataset covers two decades (2003-2022) of phytoplankton absorption coefficients at 443nm (a_ph(443)) in Chinese coastal waters (water depth < 200m). The data were derived from Remote Sensing Reflectance (R_rs) using newly enhanced coastal aerosol models in combination with NASA’s standard atmospheric correction methods. The resulting a_ph(443) values were then retrieved through the QAA_V6 algorithm. Based on 43,476 MODIS Aqua daily images at 1km resolution, the dataset was processed to produce a monthly median composite of a_ph(443) values.