Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) ERBE-like Instantaneous TOA Estimates (ES-8) Data Set Abstract

• Data Set Description
• Summary of Changes
• Examples of Data
• References
• Contact Information
• Acknowledgment

The ERBE-like Instantaneous TOA Estimates (ES-8) product contains 24 hours of instantaneous Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) data for a single scanner instrument. The ES-8 contains filtered radiances recorded every 0.01-second for the total, shortwave (SW), and window (WN) channels and the unfiltered SW, longwave (LW), and WN radiances. The SW and LW radiances at spacecraft altitude are converted to Top-of-the-Atmosphere (TOA) fluxes with a scene identification algorithm and Angular Distribution Models (ADMs) which are "like" those used for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE). The TOA fluxes, scene identification, and angular geometry are included on the ES-8. These data are organized according to the CERES 3.3-second scan into 6.6-second scan cycles. As long as there is one valid scanner measurement within a scan cycle, the ES-8 record will be generated.

The ES-8 contains the following information:

1. Scan-level Data (Vdata Structures)

   1. Time of Observation (Julian date and time)
   2. Earth-Sun distance
   3. Satellite position and velocity and Sun position
   
   

2. Measurement-level Data (Scientific Data Sets (SDSs))

   1. Instrument Field-of-View (colatitude and longitude)
   2. Radiometric data (total, shortwave, and window channels)
   3. Satellite and Sun geometry (viewing zenith, solar zenith, and relative azimuth)
   4. Unfiltered radiances (shortwave, longwave, and window)
   5. TOA fluxes (shortwave and longwave)
   6. ERBE scene identification

      ( 1) clear ocean ( 2) clear land ( 3) clear snow ( 4) clear desert

      ( 5) clear coastal ( 6) partly cloudy ocean ( 7) partly cloudy land-desert ( 8) partly cloudy coastal

      ( 9) mostly cloudy ocean (10) mostly cloudy land-desert (11) mostly cloudy coastal (12) overcast

Additional information about the format and content of the ES-8 can be found in the CERES Data Products Catalog (PDF document). Details concerning the science parameters and how they are calculated can be found in the CERES Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Subsystem 2.0 and in the ES-8 Collection Guide.

The CERES Data Management Team and the Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at Langley use a Sampling Strategy, a Production Strategy, and a Configuration Code (CCode) to track versions of CERES archival 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 instrument which acquired the data in the product.

A summary of changes made to the ES-8 HDF-EOS product is shown in the following table.

Modification History of the CERES ES-8 Aqua Archival Product

Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-8 Product
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV3 Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV3	026029	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV3 Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV3	026028	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Aqua-FM3_Edition13 Aqua-FM4_Edition13	026026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day compared with 026025 processing.
Aqua-FM3_Edition23 Aqua-FM4_Edition23	026025	06/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Aqua-FM3_Edition13 Aqua-FM4_Edition13	026025	05/2004	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition23 Aqua-FM4_Edition23	026024	02/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Aqua-FM3_Edition13 Aqua-FM4_Edition13	026024	02/2004	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition13 Aqua-FM4_Edition13	025023	08/2003	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition13 Aqua-FM4_Edition13	025022	06/2003	Release of Aqua Edition1. Provided new day and night spectral correction coefficients for FM3 and FM4.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

Modification History of the CERES ES-8 Terra Archival Product

Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-8 Product
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV3 Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV3	026029	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV3 Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV3	026028	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Terra-FM1_Edition23 Terra-FM2_Edition23	026026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day compared with 026025 processing. Linerally dropped FM2's SW channel spectral response by 0.25% from Dec03 level. Each month Jan04 to Nov04 has a 0.25%/11 drop from the preceeding month.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	026026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day compared with 026025 processing.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13 Terra-FM1_Edition23 Terra-FM2_Edition23	026025	05/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	026024	02/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition23 Terra-FM2_Edition23	025023	08/2003	(FM2) Corrected SW Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	025023	08/2003	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition23 Terra-FM2_Edition23	023019	09/2002	Corrections for ground to flight changes in the calibration coefficients. Corrections for on-orbit drifts in the calibration coefficients. Corrections for on-orbit drifts in the spectral response functions. (FM1) Corrected SW Channel spectral response (FM1) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM2) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	023019	09/2002	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	021018	09/2001	Added a Three Channel Intercomparison Test to check for bit flips in the radiance data. Added ability to specify at runtime different strategies pertaining to the SW offset, ADMs, and Spectral Correction Algorithm. Provided capability to run ERBE data through CERES ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes software. New Spectral Correction Coeffiecents were created for ERBS and NOAA9.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	020016	04/2001	Applied HDF Compression.
Terra-FM1_Edition13 Terra-FM2_Edition13	019015	11/2000	Release of Terra Edition1. Slope/intercept Spectral Correction code updated to apply 2nd order polynomial fits for the window channel and for shortwave cloudy cases, and to perform interpolation of unfiltered radiances. Provided new day and night spectral correction coefficients for FM1 and FM2.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

Modification History of the CERES ES-8 TRMM Archival Product

Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-8 Product
TRMM-PFM_Edition23	025023	06/2003	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition23	023019	09/2002	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition23 TRMM-PFM_Transient-Ops23 TRMM-PFM_FailingSensor2	021018	09/2001	Added a Three Channel Intercomparison Test to check for bit flips in the radiance data. Added ability to specify at runtime different strategies pertaining to the SW offset, ADMs, and Spectral Correction Algorithm. Provided capability to run ERBE data through CERES ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes software. New Spectral Correction Coeffiecents were created for ERBS and NOAA9.
TRMM-PFM_Edition12	018014	09/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition22	017013	04/2000	Change Spectral Correction Algorithm to use slope intercept method. Change LW TOA flux upper limit from 400 W/m2 to 450 W/m2. Modified slope intercept method (2nd (+) order curve fit) used in the Spectral Correction Algorithm. New day & night Spectral Correction Coefficients for PFM, FM1, & FM2.
TRMM-PFM_Edition22	016012	03/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition22	014011	02/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Transient-Ops22	011004	12/1999	Set regional averages for viewing zenith and relative azimuth angle values to default on EID-6 if any included measurement is not from crosstrack mode.
TRMM-PFM_Edition13	009001	10/1998	New window channel spectral correction coefficients to correct radiances that were about 10 0gh. Both crosstrack and rotating azimuth measurements included in regional averages that are passed to Subsystem 3.0.
TRMM-PFM_Edition12	008000	08/1998	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition12	007000	06/1998	Release of Terra Edition1. 3rd word of scanner operations flag was modified to designate crosstrack, RAPS, alongtrack, and transitional data modes. Window channel units to "per micron". Revised spectral correction coefficients because of differences in shortwave throughput between ERBE and CERES. Used ERBE ADMs and thresholds.
Validation version only available to CERES analysts. This version available to the CERES Science Team. This version available to the public.

Nine quality control images (gif files) are generated and made available on the Web for each ES-8.

These images are for shortwave, window, and total filtered radiances; shortwave, window, and longwave unfiltered radiances; shortwave and longwave TOA fluxes; and the results of the ERBE scene identification algorithm. Examples for each of these images from the January 1, 1998 TRMM data set follow.

Additional images and ancillary data sets (such as Spectral Correction Coefficients and Angular Distribution Models) are available from the CERES ERBE-like Data Validation - Public Page.

1. Blackadar, Alfred, A Computer Almanac, Weatherwise, Vol. 37, 5, October 1984, p. 257-260.

2. Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Data Products Catalog (PDF) Release 3, Version 2, March 2000.

3. Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, Instrument Geolocate and Calibrate Earth Radiances (Subsystem 1.0), Release 2.2, June 1997.

4. Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, ERBE-like to Instantaneous Fluxes (Subsystem 2.0), Rel. 2.2, June 2, 1997.

5. Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Software Requirements document, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA and Surface Fluxes, (Subsystem 2.0) Release 1, Version 1, November 1994.

6. Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Validation Plan, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA and Surface Fluxes, (Subsystem 2.0) Release 2.2, July 1997.

7. HDF User's Guide, NASA Langley Atmospheric Science Data Center, Hierarchical Data Format Web Site, (from NCSA) Version 4.0, February 1996.

8. Jefferys, William H., "Julian Day Numbers".

9. Release B SCF ToolKit User's Guide for the ECS Project, June 1998.

10. Software Bulletin "CERES Metadata Requirements for LaTIS", Revision 1, January 7, 1998.

11. Smith, G. L., "Effects of time response on the point spread function of a scanning radiometer," Appl. Opt., 30, 7031-7037, 1994.

12. TRW DRL 64, 55067.300.008E; In-flight Measurement Analysis (Revision E), 18 March, 1997.

Dr. Bruce A. Wielicki
CERES Principal Investigator
Atmospheric Sciences Competency
NASA Langley Research Center
E-mail: b.a.wielicki@nasa.gov

Dr. Kory J. Priestley, Subsystem 2.0 Working Group Chair
Mail Stop 420
Atmospheric Sciences Competency
NASA Langley Research Center
Hampton, Virginia 23681-2199
USA
Telephone: (757) 864-8147
FAX: (757) 864-2671
E-mail: kory.j.priestley@nasa.gov

User and Data Services Office
Atmospheric Science Data Center
NASA Langley Research Center
Mail Stop 157D
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

Acknowledgment: 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.

Reference: 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: July 1999
Last Date Modified: Aug 1999; Jan 2000; Feb 2000; Mar 2000 Apr 2000; Nov 2000 (Terra Edition1); Jun 2001; Oct 2001; Oct 2002; May 7, 2003; Sep 16, 2003; Jun 14, 2004; Nov 17, 2004; Mar 31, 2005
Review Date: Mar 2000; Mar 2000; Apr 2000; Jun 2001; Oct 2001; Oct 2002; May 2003; Sep 2003; Jun 2004; Dec 2004; Mar 2005
Document ID:
Author: User and Data Services Office, ASDC
ASDC Help Desk: Phone (757) 864-8656; E-mail larc@eos.nasa.gov
URL: http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/GUIDE/dataset_documents/cer_es8.html