Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Monthly Gridded Cloud Averages (ISCCP-D2like-GEO) Data Set Abstract

1. Data Set Description
2. Summary of Changes
3. References
4. Contact Information
5. Acknowledgment

The Monthly Gridded Cloud Averages (ISCCP-D2like-GEO), archival data product contains 3-hourly (GMT based) monthly and monthly 1° gridded regional mean cloud properties as a function of 18 cloud types, similar to the ISCCP D2 product, where the cloud properties are stratified by pressure, optical depth and phase. Input to the Subsystem is the Grid Geostationary Narrowband Radiances (GGEO) data product. The science data are Scientific Data Sets (SDSs) with multiple records. Each record contains spatially averaged data for an individual region. The following tables are helpful in recognizing the structure of the HDF output.

Additional information about the format and content of the ISCCP-D2like can be found in the CERES Data Products Catalog. A detailed description of the ISCCP-D2like can be found in the SFC Collection Guide. The Collection Guide is not yet available.

The CERES Data Management Team and the Langley Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) use a Sampling Strategy, a Production Strategy, and a Configuration Code (CCode) to track versions of CERES primary data products. In general, minor reprocessing changes are tracked by increasing the Configuration Code while major reprocessing changes result in a new Production Strategy. The Sampling Strategy identifies the satellite and instruments which acquired the data in the product.

A summary of changes made to the CERES ISCCP-D2like-GEO product is shown in the following table.

Modification History of the CERES ISCCP-D2like-GEO Product

Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on ISCCP-D2like Product
CER_ISCCP-D2like-GEO_Composite_Beta13	023031	October 2008	Edition2A GGEO data is used as input See History for CER_SSF_Terra-FM1-MODIS_Edition2B, CER_SSF_Terra-FM1-MODIS_Edition2F, and CER_SSF_Terra-FM2-MODIS_Edition2B

Footnotes:

Not available Access restricted to CERES analysts Access restricted to CERES Science Team and analysts Available to the public

The first two references describe the CERES_MODIS cloud retrieval algorithm. The third reference explains the cloud optical depth gamm distribution assumption. The last reference outlines the GGEO cloud retrieval Layered Bispectral Threshold Model (LBTM) algorithm and is a subset of the MODIS algorithm. Further references of validation and quality of MODIS and GEO cloud retrievals can be found on the CERES reference page from the NASA Langley Cloud and Radiation Group Home Page.

• Baum, B. A.; Welch, R. M.; Minnis, P.; Stowe, L. L.; Coakley, J. A., Jr.; Titlow, J.; Tovinkere, V.; Heck, P. W.; Trepte, Q.; Doelling, D. R.; Mayor, S.; Berendes, T.; Han, Q.; Christopher, S. A.; Kuo, K.-S.; Penaloza, M.; Logar, A.; and Davis, P.: Imager Clear-Sky Determination and Cloud Detection (Subsystem 4.1). "Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, Volume III: Cloud Analyses and Determination of Improved Top of Atmosphere Fluxes (Subsystem 4)(Subsystem 4)" (PDF), NASA RP 1376 Vol. 3, edited by CERES Science Team, December, 1995, pp. 43-82.

• Baum, B. A.; Minnis, P.; Coakley, J. A., Jr.; Wielicki, B. A.; Menzel, P.; Titlow, J.; Tovinkere, V.; Heck, P. ; and Mayor, S.: Imager Cloud Height Determination (Subsystem 4.2). "Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, Volume III: Cloud Analyses and Determination of Improved Top of Atmosphere Fluxes (Subsystem 4)" (PDF) NASA RP 1376 Vol. 3, edited by CERES Science Team, December, 1995, pp. 83-134.

• Kato, S.; Rose, F. G.; Charlock, T. P.; 2005: Computation of Domain-Averaged Irradiance Using Satellite-Derived Cloud Properties. J. of Atmos. and Oceanic Tech., 22, pp 146-164

• Minnis, P.; Smith, W. L., Jr.; Garber, D. P.; Ayers, J. K.; and Doelling, D. R.: Cloud Properties Derived From GOES-7 for the Spring 1994 ARM Intensive Observing Period Using Version 1.0.0 of the ARM Satellite Data Analysis Program. NASA RP 1366, August 1995, 59 pp

Dr. Bruce A. Wielicki
CERES Interdisciplinary Principal Investigator
E-mail: b.a.wielicki@nasa.gov
Telephone: (757) 864-5683

David R. Doelling
E-mail: david.r.doelling@nasa.gov
Telephone: (757) 864-2155

Atmospheric Sciences Research
Mail Stop 420
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
FAX: (757) 864-7996

User and Data Services Office
Atmospheric Science Data Center
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
2 South Wright Street
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8656
FAX: (757) 864-8807
E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov

The requested form of acknowledgment for any publication in which these data are used is:

"These data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center."

The Langley Data Center requests a reprint of any published papers or reports or a brief description of other uses (e.g., posters, oral presentations, etc.) of data that we have distributed. This will help the Data Center determine the use of data distributed, which is helpful in optimizing product development. It also helps us to keep our product related references current.

The CERES Team has gone to considerable trouble to remove major errors and to verify the quality and accuracy of these data. Please provide a reference to the following paper when you publish scientific results with the CERES data:

Wielicki, B. A., B. R. Barkstrom, E. F. Harrison, R. B. Lee III, G. L. Smith, and J. E. Cooper, "Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES): An Earth Observing System Experiment," Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 853-868, 1996.

Document Creation Date: October 10, 2008
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Author: User and Data Services, Langley ASDC
ASDC Help Desk: Phone (757) 864-8656; E-mail: larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/GUIDE/dataset_documents/cer_isccp-d2like-geo.html