Metadata file for: NASA_BM_Geo.ecw
Content: 1-Km resolution 'Blue Marble' satellite image mosaic created by NASA / GSFC
Area of coverage: World
Source data: MODIS sensor onboard the Terra satellite
Date created: 2001
Processed by: Earthstar Geographics (www.es-geo.com)
Available at: www.terracolor.net

Notes: This world image mosaic was created by NASA / GSFC (Goddard Space Flight 
Center) using images acquired by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging 
Spectroradiometer) sensor onboard the Terra satellite from 700 Km above the
earth.  The land and coastal ocean portions of these images are based on surface
observations collected from June through September 2001 and combined, or 
composited, every eight days to compensate for clouds that might block the 
sensor’s view of the surface on any single day. Two different types of ocean data 
were used in these images: shallow water true color data, and global ocean color 
(or chlorophyll) data. Topographic shading is based on the GTOPO30 elevation dataset 
compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey’s EROS Data Center. MODIS observations of polar 
sea ice were combined with observations of Antarctica made by the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration’s AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer). 

Earthstar Geographics modified the original image data slightly, and compressed
it to ECW format. Earthstar was granted permission by NASA / GSFC to distribute 
the imagery with our TerraColor World product.  Credit must be given to NASA 
if the image is used for commercial purposes (e.g., "Blue Marble image courtesy 
of NASA/GSFC"). Complete information about the Blue Marble program can be found 
at this website: http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/rsd/bluemarble/index.html

The Latitude Longitude map projection used for this image (also called Geographic
or unprojected) is a very simple projection formed by considering longitude and 
latitude as a simple rectangular coordinate system.  Scale, distance, area, and 
shape are all distorted with the distortion increasing toward the poles. Although 
other world projections portray the earth much more accurately, this projection 
is commonly used for image data. Any collateral data stored in units of decimal 
degrees can be plotted on this projection.

Data format: Enhanced Compressed Wavelet (ECW) Unsigned 24-bit RGB
Byte order: Intel
Number of rows: 43200
Number of columns: 21600
Number of bands: 3
Value for null pixels: None

Uncompressed file size: 2.61 GB
ECW compressed file size: 93.0 MB

Pixel size X: 0.0083333 Decimal Degrees
Pixel size Y: 0.0083333 Decimal Degrees

Datum: WGS84
Projection: Latitude Longitude (Geographic)
XY Units: Decimal Degrees

UL corner X,Y: 180.0, 90.0
LR corner X,Y: -180.0, -90.0

UL corner Lat, Long: 90:0:0.0N, 180:0:0.0E
LR corner Lat, Long: 90:0:0.0S, 180:0:0.0W