The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is a broad-band, four to six-channel (depending on the model) scanner, sensing in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This sensor is carried on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES), beginning with TIROS-N in 1978. AVHRR provides day and night imaging of land, water, and clouds as well as measurements of sea surface temperature, ice snow, and vegetation cover. NEODAAS (NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service) Dundee Satellite Receiving Station retrieved data from the NOAA satellites and initially published the products. The data were transferred to CEDA when the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station (NEODAAS Dundee node) facility was closed to continue the long term archive.

This dataset provides optical level 0 ocean colour data. The SeaWiFS instrument was launched by Orbital Sciences Corporation on the OrbView-2 (a.k.a. SeaStar) satellite in August 1997, and collected data from September 1997 until the end of mission in December 2010. SeaWiFS had 8 spectral bands from 412 to 865 nm. It collected global data at 4 km resolution, and local data (limited on board storage and direct broadcast) at 1 km. The mission and sensor were optimised for ocean colour measurements, with a local noon (descending) equator crossing time orbit, fore-and-aft tilt capability, full dynamic range, and low polarisation sensitivity. The data were transferred to CEDA when the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS Dundee node) facility was closed to continue the long term archive.

The Coastal Zone Colour Scanner (CZCS) was a multi-channel scanning radiometer aboard the US Nimbus 7 satellite. Nimbus 7 was launched 24 October 1978, and CZCS became operational on 2 November 1978. It was only designed to operate for one year (as a proof-of-concept), but in fact remained in service until 22 June 1986. Its operation on board the Nimbus 7 was limited to alternate days as it shared its power with the passive microwave scanning multi channel microwave radiometer. CZCS measured reflected solar energy in six channels, at a resolution of 800 meters. These measurements were used to map chlorophyll concentration in water, sediment distribution, salinity, and the temperature of coastal waters and ocean currents. The data were transferred to CEDA when the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station (NEODAAS Dundee node) facility was closed to continue the long term archive.