CERES ES-9 Data Set Guide Abstract

The ERBE-like Monthly Regional Averages (ES-9) product contains a month of space and time averaged Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) data for a single scanner instrument. The ES-9 is also produced for combinations of scanner instruments. All instantaneous shortwave and longwave fluxes at the Top-of-the-Atmosphere (TOA) from the CERES ES-8 product for a month are sorted by 2.5-degree spatial regions, by day number, and by the local hour of observation. The mean of the instantaneous fluxes for a given region-day-hour bin is determined and recorded on the ES-9 along with other flux statistics and scene information. For each region, the daily average flux is estimated from an algorithm that uses the available hourly data, scene identification data, and diurnal models. This algorithm is "like" the algorithm used for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE). The ES-9 also contains hourly average fluxes for the month and an overall monthly average for each region. These average fluxes are given for both clear-sky and total-sky scenes.

The ES-9 archival data product is created as an HDF file with Scientific Data Sets (SDS) which contain data for each 2.5-degree region observed during a month. There are 10,368 possible regions; a given region is viewed by the scanner several times as the spacecraft passes overhead. For each region, data are stored for each hour that is viewed by the CERES scanner during the month. SDS data include the mean estimates of shortwave and longwave radiant flux at the TOA, the standard deviations of these estimates, the maximum and minimum estimate, and scene information or cloud condition. Similar parameters are determined for those scanner measurements that are identified as clear-sky areas. In addition to the hourbox data, Daily, Monthly Hourly, and monthly averages are also stored (see figure below).

The ES-9 contains Scientific Data Sets written as six HDF vgroups:

Regional Summary Data
Monthly (Day) Averages
Monthly (Hour) Averages
Daily Averages
Monthly Hourly Averages
Hourbox Data (hourly averages indexed by day and local hour for each region)

The Regional Summary Data vgroup contains information such as region number, geographic scene type, and cloud cover for each of the possible 10,368 2.5-deg regions on the ES-9 product. The remaining vgroups contain clear-sky and total-sky parameters such as solar incidence, net radiant flux, longwave flux, shortwave flux, and albedo.

Additional information about the format and content of the ES-9 can be found in the CERES Data Products Catalog (PDF). Details concerning the science parameters and how they are calculated can be found in the CERES Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Subsystem 3.0 and in the ES-9 Collection Guide.

Summary of Changes:

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(s) and instrument(s) which acquired the data in the product.

A summary of changes made to the ES-9 HDF product is shown in the following table.

**Modification History of the CERES ES-9 Aqua Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-9 Product
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV³	024030	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1-CV³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1-CV³	024029	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 processing.
Aqua-FM3_Edition2³ Aqua-FM4_Edition2³	024025	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	024025	05/2004	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition2³ Aqua-FM4_Edition2³	024024	02/2004	Instrument calibaration update for both FM3 and FM4 instruments. (FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	024024	02/2004	Instrument calibaration update for both FM3 and FM4 instruments.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
Aqua-FM3_Edition1³ Aqua-FM4_Edition1³	023022	08/2003	Release of Aqua Edition1.
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-9 Terra Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-9 Product
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV³ Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV³	024030	04/2006	No science impact. Reprocessed to use all available input.
Terra-FM1_Edition1-CV³ Terra-FM2_Edition1-CV³	024029	04/2006	Eliminated data affected by Solar Heating.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 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	024026	03/2005	Instrument Subsystem code changes result in less radiances processed. The worst case is 1.5% less records for a day and 0.1% for a month compared with 024025 processing.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	024025	05/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	024024	02/2004	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	023023	09/2003	(FM2) Corrected SW Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
FM1+FM2_Edition1²	023022	07/2003	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2² Terra-FM2_Edition2²	023021	07/2003	(FM2) Corrected SW Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³	023021	07/2003	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³ FM1+FM2_Edition2³	021020	09/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data. (FM1) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM2) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition2³ Terra-FM2_Edition2³	021019	08/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. (FM1) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM1) Corrected SW Channel spectral response (FM2) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	021019	08/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Recovery of missing Edition1 data. Snow map algorithm correction.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
Terra-FM1_Edition1² Terra-FM2_Edition1² FM1+FM2_Edition1²	018016	04/2001	Applied HDF Compression.
Terra-FM1_Edition1³ Terra-FM2_Edition1³ FM1+FM2_Edition1³	017015	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-9 TRMM Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-9 Product
TRMM-PFM_Edition2³	021019	08/2002	Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data.
TRMM-PFM_Edition2³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	016014	09/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition2²	015013	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. New structure for ES-9 HDF products. Also, changed from HDF-EOS to HDF. 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	014012	03/2000	No science impact.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1³	009001	10/1998	Both crosstrack and rotating azimuth measurements included in monthly averages.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	008000	08/1998	Changed HDF parameter names.
TRMM-PFM_Edition1²	007000	06/1998	Began generating ES-9 HDF product.
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-9 Terra+Aqua Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-9 Product
FM1+FM3_Edition2³ FM1+FM4_Edition2³	024025	06/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
FM1+FM3_Edition2³ FM1+FM4_Edition2³	024024	02/2004	(FM3) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response (FM4) Corrected SW part of Total Channel spectral response
FM1+FM2+FM3+FM4_Edition1³	023023	09/2003	No science impact.
FM1+FM2+FM3+FM4_Edition1³	023022	08/2003	No science impact.
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-9 TRMM+Terra Archival Product**
Sampling Strategy and Production Strategy	CCode	Available at ASDC	Impact on the ES-9 Product
PFM+FM1_Edition2³ PFM+FM2_Edition2³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition2³	021020	09/2002	Instrument calibration updates for both FM1 and FM2 instruments. Snow map algorithm correction. Recovery of missing Edition1 data.
PFM+FM1_Edition1³ PFM+FM2_Edition1³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition1³	019018	11/2001	No science impact.
PFM+FM1_Edition1³ PFM+FM2_Edition1³ PFM+FM1+FM2_Edition1³	017015	11/2000	New slope/intercept spectral correction coefficients for PFM. 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.

Examples of Data:

At the present time there are no graphics available over the Web for the ES-9 product; however, the six quality control images (gif files) that are generated and made available on the Web for the ES-4 product are representative of the ES-9. Examples of albedo, shortwave, and longwave (clear-sky and total-sky for each) images from the January 1998 ES-4 TRMM data set follow.

References:

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Software Requirements Document, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 2.0), Release 1 Version 1, November 1994.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Software Requirements Document, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Release 1 Version 1, January 1995.
Smith, G.L.; Green, R. N.; Raschke, E.; Avis, L. M.; Suttles, J. T.; Wielicki, B. A., and Davies, R.: Inversion Methods for Satellite Studies of the Earth's Radiation Budget: Development of Algorithms for the ERBE Mission. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 407-421, May 1986.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, ERBE-like Inversion to Instantaneous TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 2.0), Rel. 2.2, June 2, 1997.
ERBE Data Management System Reference Manual, Volume V(a) and V(b) (PDF), Inversion, August 1987.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Rel. 2.2, June 2, 1997.
ERBE Data Management System Reference Manual, Volume VI (PDF), Daily Data Base, Monthly Time/Space Averaging, November 1986.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Data Management System Data Products Catalog (PDF), Release 3, Version 2, March 2000.
TRW DRL 64, 55067.300.008E; In-flight Measurement Analysis (Rev. E), March 1997.
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.
Brooks, D. R.; Harrison, E. F.; Minnis, P.; Suttles, J. T., and Kandel, R. S.: Development of Algorithms for Understanding the Temporal and Spatial Variability of the Earth's Radiation Balance. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 24, pp. 422-438, May 1986.
ERBE Data Management System, The Regional, Zonal, and Global Averages, S-4, User's Guides, June 1993.
Brooks, D. R. and P. Minnis, "Comparison of Longwave Diurnal Models Applied to Simulations of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment," Journal of Climate and Applied Meteorology, 23, 155-160, 1984.
Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Validation Plan, ERBE-like Averaging to Monthly TOA Fluxes (Subsystem 3.0), Release 3.0, February 1999.

Contact Information:

Investigator(s) Name & Title:

Technical Contact:

Author/Data Center:

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.

	Albedo	Shortwave	Longwave
All Sky
Clear Sky

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) ERBE-like Monthly Regional Averages (ES-9) Data Set Abstract

Table of Contents:

Data Set Description: