Earthdata Forum

We are pleased to announce that Level 1 data from the OLCI instrument on the                                 
Sentinel 3A platform are now available from NASA’s Ocean Biology Distributed                                 
Active Archive Center (OB.DAAC).                                                                             
                                                                                                             
On October 16, 2015, the United States of America (US) State Department and the                              
European Commission (EC), signed a Cooperation Arrangement on Earth Observation                              
data.  Following this, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)                              
and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Technical Operating Arrangement                                 
that provides access to data from the Sentinel satellites, the dedicated space                               
component of the European Copernicus Programme. NASA, working in conjunction                                 
with ESA, has implemented a Sentinel data mirror archive in the U.S. for re-use                              
and re-dissemination of Sentinel products. The NASA mirror will increase                                     
distribution capacity, maximizing the benefits to Earth Science research and                                 
applications.                                                                                                
                                                                                                             
As per the agreement, NASA will make the Sentinel core products available to                                 
users who register for Earth Observing System (EOS) Data and Information System                              
(EOSDIS) user accounts and who have agreed to the terms and conditions set by                                
the European Union to access Sentinel data. Sentinel data archived by NASA will                              
be provided to all science data users without further access conditions or                                   
restrictions.                                                                                                
                                                                                                             
On December 14, 2016 ESA announced the first official release of Sentinel-3A                                 
OLCI Level 1 Non Time Critical (NTC) data products.  The Near Real Time (NRT)                                
Level 1 products had previously been released on October 20, 2016.  The OB.DAAC                              
has acquired and is making available the Level 1 data collected after the NTC                                
release date.    When ESA makes available the NTC products from the Sentinel 3A                              
commissioning phase and early ramp-up phase these will also be made available                                
by the OB.DAAC.                                                                                              
                                                                                                             
To access the NASA mirror of Sentinel 3A data, please visit the OB.DAAC website:                             
    Level 1/2 Browser: http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/browse.pl?sen=ol&typ=ERR                          
    Direct Access: http://oceandata.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/S3OLCI/                                                
                                                                                                             
    Note: The Level 1/2 browser currently only supports the reduced resolution                               
    (ERR) data. We will make the full resolution (EFR) data available via this                               
    browser at a later date.  The EFR data are available from the Direct Access                              
    site.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                             
For more information on the Copernicus Programme, please visit:                                              
http://copernicus.eu/                                                                                        
                                                                                                             
For more information on the Sentinel missions, please visit:                                                 
http://sentinels.copernicus.eu/

All,

We have received inquires regarding the current latency with OLCI L1B data
availability from the Ocean Biology DAAC distribution services.  The OB.DAAC
receives the Sentinel 3 data via a portal set up by agreement between ESA and
NASA.  As recently as late January, data available on this portal was within
several hours of real time.  However, on or about January 30th, an increase in
latency was experienced.  As of today (15 February 2017) we have data collected
through 06 February 2017.  We have been informed that those responsible for the
management of this NASA/ESA portal are aware of the situation and are working
on a resolution. Hopefully the latency issue will be resolved soon and we will
be able to provide the data in a more timely manner.

We appreciate your patience with this matter.

Regards,
Sean