List of Products

Environmental Data from Polar-orbiting Satellites

Polar orbiting satellites collect data on a global scale on a daily basis for use in a variety of land, ocean, and atmospheric applications. Data from the POES series supports a broad range of environmental monitoring applications.

Aerosol Optical Thickness (100 KM) (AERO100)

The primary products are global one degree maps of aerosol optical thickness based on one week's worth of data. Currently they are created from AVHRR channel 1 optical thickness retrievals from AVHRR global area coverage (GAC) data. Optical thickness, or optical depth,is a dimensionless quantity that indicates the amount of depletion that a beam of radiation undergoes as it passes through a layer of the atmosphere. Optical depth is a function of the density, composition, temperature, pressure, and volume of the layer. Aerosols are defined as suspensions of liquid droplets or solid particles in the atmosphere, including dust, smoke, sand, volcanic ash, sea spray and smog. Available Time Period: 1987-06 - Present

Advanced Scatterometer Level 1B (ASCAT)

ASCAT is a real aperture radar operating at 5.255 GHz (C-band) and using vertically polarized antennae. It transmits a long pulse with Linear Frequency Modulation ("chirp"). Ground echoes are received by the instrument and, after de-chirping, the backscattered signal is spectrally analyzed and detected. In the power spectrum, frequency can be mapped into slant range provided the chirp rate and the Doppler frequency are known. The above processing is in effect a pulse compression, which provides range resolution. Available Time Period: 20070521 - Present

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) is a cross-track scanning system with five spectral bands having a resolution of 1.1 km and a frequency of earth scans twice per day (0230 and 1430 local solar time). There are three data types produced from the POES AVHRR. The Global Area Coverage (GAC) data set is reduced resolution image data that is processed onboard the satellite taking only one line out of every three and averaging every four of five adjacent samples along the scan line; the Local Area Coverage (LAC) data set is recorded onboard at original resolution (1.1 km) for part of an orbit and later transmitted to earth; and the High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) is real-time downlink data. A fourth data type, Full Resolution Area Coverage (FRAC 1.1 km) is now available daily for the entire globe with the launch of MetOp-A, on October 19, 2006, Europe's first polar orbiting operational meteorological satellite system and the first of the European contribution to the Initial Joint Polar-Orbiting Operational Satellite System (IJPS). AVHRR data provide opportunities for studying and monitoring vegetation conditions in ecosystems including forests, tundra and grasslands. Applications include agricultural assessment, land cover mapping, producing image maps of large areas such as countries or continents, and tracking regional and continental snow cover. AVHRR data are also used to retrieve various geophysical parameters such as sea surface temperatures and energy budget data. Available Time Period: 19781105 - Present

Coast Watch full resolution swath files in hdf format (CW_SWATH)

CoastWatch swath data derived from AVHRR is full pass swath projection data from different AVHRR receiving stations. The files contain multiple data variables stored using the HDF-4 Scientific Data Sets (SDS) model. The product contents are channel 1 albedo, channel 2 albedo, channel 3a albedo, channel 3 brightness temperature, channel 4 brightness temperature, channel 5 brightness temperature, moisture corrected sea-surface-temperature, 8-bit CLAVR ocean cloud mask, 2-bit CLAVR-X cloud mask, satellite zenith angle, solar zenith angle and relative azimuth angle. Available Time Period: 20031110 - Present

CoastWatch Regions in HDF format (CW_REGION)

The mapped data derived from AVHRR is divided into files for CoastWatch regions of interest. Each file contains multiple data variables stored using the HDF-4 Scientific Data Sets (SDS) model. The product contents are channel 1 albedo, channel 2 albedo, channel 3a albedo, channel 3 brightness temperature, channel 4 brightness temperature, channel 5 brightness temperature, moisture corrected sea-surface-temperature, 8-bit CLAVR ocean cloud mask, 2-bit CLAVR-X cloud mask, satellite zenith angle, solar zenith angle, relative azimuth angle and 8-bit graphics layers. Available Time Period: 20031110 - Present

CoastWatch, Alaska Regional Node (CWALA)

The sea surface temperature (SST) products were derived from NOAA's Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) for the coastal United States. They were created by NOAA CoastWatch Program and are now only available through this website. CoastWatch started with only POES/AVHRR SST data for the East Coast, but later added more regional nodes of Alaska, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Great Lakes, Northeast, Southeast and West Coast. The products provided here are in the original CoastWatch Format, which does not apply to the SST data currently created. The new data is now provided in HDF format, which is also available through this web site. Available Time Period: 19910414 - 20040308

CoastWatch, Caribbean Regional Node (CWCAR)

CoastWatch, Gulf of Mexico (CWGOM)

CoastWatch, Great Lakes Node (CWGRL)

CoastWatch, Hawaii Regional Node (CWHAW)

CoastWatch, Northeast Regional Node (CWNOE)

CoastWatch, Southeast Regional Node (CWSOE)

CoastWatch, West Coast Regional Node (CWWEC)

GCOM-W1 Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) RDR and TLE (GW1A2RTLE) (restricted)

ACCESS TO THE DATA IS RESTRICTED. The Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) is a series of JAXA Earth Observation Missions as a successor to the EOS ADEOS 2 satellite and to the Aqua Mission. GCOM is, together with the GPM Mission, Japan's contribution to the GEOSS (Global Earth Observation System of Systems). The mission of GCOM-W1 is to observe the water cycle. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR2) aboard the GCOM-W1 detects microwave signals emitted naturally from the ground, sea surface and atmosphere, using six different frequency bands ranging from 7 GHz to 89 GHz. The AMSR2 microwave observations can be used to assess precipitation, vapor amounts, wind velocity above the ocean, sea water temperature, water levels on land areas, and snow depths. This collection contains the AMSR2 Raw Data Records (RDR) which are used to develop the higher-level processed products, Sensor and Environmental Data Records (SDR and EDR). Also, included in this data collection are the GCOM-W1 Two Line Elements and Mission Notices. ACCESS TO THE DATA IS RESTRICTED.

Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 Level 1B (GOME)

GOME-2 is a scanning spectrometer used to measure profiles of atmospheric ozone and to measure other trace gases in the atmosphere. It is an adaptation of a similar instrument already successfully flown on ESA's ERS-2 satellite. It is a nadir viewing across-track scanning spectrometer with a swath width of 1920 km. It measures the radiance back-scattered from the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth in the ultraviolet and visible range. The instrument uses four channels to cover the full spectral range from 240 to 790 nm with a spectral resolution of 0.2 nm at the lower end of the range, rising to 0.4 nm at the higher end. The instrument employs a mirror mechanism which scans across the satellite track with a maximum scan angle that can be varied from ground control, and three multi-spectral samples per scan. The ground pixel size of GOME-2 is 40 x 80 km. Available Time Period: 20070521 - Present

Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 Daily Data (GOME_DAILY)

The GOME-2 total ozone retrieval algorithm is based on OMI/TOMS (Ozone Monitoring Instrument / Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) V8 algorithm, which is a three-step process of successive estimation improvement. The algorithm uses a pair of wavelengths 331nm and 318nm (340nm and 331nm for high solar zenith angle) to derive total ozone and surface reflectivity. It first calculates N-value at the pair of wavelengths using input radiance/irradiance from GOME-2 level 1b data. With its geo-reference information, such as latitude, longitude, solar zenith angle, etc., the measured N-value is compared with pre-calculated N-value to derive the step-one total ozone and reflectivity. The pre-calculated N-value is generated by using OTMRAD forward radiative transfer model. In order to obtain step-two ozone, the profiles of ozone and temperature climatologies are then applied at all levels to account for seasonal and latitudinal variations in profile shape. In the last step, the step-two ozone estimation is modified to correct for wavelength dependent effects (tropospheric aerosol and sun glint) and local upper level profile shape effects. The algorithm writes out all the retrieval variables and corresponding geo-referenced information to PMF at the end of each scan process. Each day, the granules are accumulated to create the level 3 gridded map in ASCII and GRIB2 format. The Level 3 products are created by computing weighted averages of the Level 2 products with Fields of View intersecting each 1.25 degrees Longitude by 1.00 degree Latitude grid cell. (In polar regions the cells increase to 5.00 degrees Longitude.) The weights scale as the reciprocal of the relative path lengths (one divided by the sum of the secant of view angle plus secant of solar zenith angle) for each observation. The Magnesium II information is extracted daily from the GOME-2 1B granules, as soon as new solar radiance measurements are available. The product includes a 61-wavelength subset of the daily solar spectrum and a Mg II core-to-wing ratio for the spectrum. Our Mg II Index value is a simple ratio of the average of the irradiance measurements near three core wavelengths to the average of the irradiance measurements near four wavelengths at the wings, two at each wing. Each irradiance value is computed by interpolation of the pair of values for GOME-2 surrounding the following positions: 276.82, 276.97, 279.78, 279.92, 280.07, 283.03, and 283.17 nm. The daily gridded total ozone and Magnesium II products are available in ASCII format. Available Time Period: 20071001 - Present

Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 Level 2 (GOME_L2)

IJPS Companion File (IJPS_COMP)

There are two types of Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite (IJPS) System Companion files: 1. NOAA AIP 1a telemetry file - contains the AIP minor frame data as generated on-board the satellite for the orbit. An AIP minor frame contains packed, or commutated, instrument data and other satellite data covering a time period of 0.1 seconds. 2. IJPS Ancillary file - a tar file that contains all of the ancillary input files required by the preprocessor in order to identically reproduce its output (e.g., the 1b* data sets). These files include instrument-level 1a files, control files, navigation-related files, and calibration-related files. Available Time Period: 20040720 - Present

Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer 3X3 (IASI3X3)

The level 1C IASI data are collocated to points on a 3x3 degree global grid. This product is generated daily and consists of two files, one for ascending orbits and the other for descending orbits. Available Time Period: 20071030 - Present

Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer Granule Data (IASI)

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer is flown on METOP-A. The main goal is to provide atmospheric emission spectra to derive temperature and humidity profiles with high vertical resolution and accuracy. It is a Michelson interferometer with spectral coverage between 3.6 and 15.5 micrometers. At nadir, the instrument samples data at intervals of 25 km along and a cross track, each sample having a maximum diameter of about 12 km. The level 1C data is geo-located, calibrated and apodized. Datatypes available are Level 1C granules from EUMETSAT, Level 2 and CCR profiles from NOAA. Available Time Period: 20070521 - Present

MIRS Orbital Data (MIRS_ORB)

The MIRS was developed with an end-to-end capability of calibrating and characterizing the radiances measured from satellite-based microwave instruments and retrieving the environmental data records with state of the art algorithm science. This system is an upgrade from the NESDIS operational Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) and is a one-stop resource for microwave-derived products from various polar-orbiting satellite instrument configurations. The MIRS is capable of optimally retrieving atmospheric and surface state parameters and provides physical-based retrievals/products in a consistent fashion. It is also designed to be instrument/spectrum-independent, parameter-independent, and platform-independent. The MIRS produces advanced near-real-time operational surface and precipitation products in all-weather and over all-surface conditions using brightness temperatures from multiple microwave instruments. Current instruments are the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) and the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) onboard NOAA-18 and MetOp-A satellites and the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) aboard the DMSP 5D-2/F16 satellite. Current operational Sounding Products are temperature, moisture, and hydrometeor profiles over ocean and land available in the HDF-EOS and NetCDF profile format. Current operational Precipitation and Surface Products are total precipitable water over ocean and land, land surface temperature, land surface emissivity, cloud liquid water, sea ice concentration, snow water equivalent, snow cover, ice water path, rain water path, and rainfall rate available in the HDF-EOS and NetCDF image format. Available Time Period: 20070830 - Present

MSPPS Mapped Data (MSPPS_FXAR)

Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) produces near real-time operational surface and precipitation products from the AMSU-A, AMSU-B and MHS instruments aboard NOAA and METOP satellites. The operational products include Antenna Temperatures, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water, Sea Ice Concentration, Land Surface Temperature, Land Surface Emissivity at 23.8, 31.4 and 50.3 GHz, Snow Cover, Rain Rate, Snow Water Equivalent and Ice-Water Path. Both Level-II (orbital) and Level-III (grid) products are available.The MSPPS grid products include Snow Cover, Rain Rate and Snow-Water Equivalent from AMSU-B/MHS and Sea Ice Concentration from AMSU-A. These level 3 geophysical products are mapped with the 1/16th-mesh Polar Stereographic projection and updated daily. They are available in HDF-EOS format. Available Time Period: 20030712 - Present

MSPPS Orbital Data (MSPPS_ORB)

Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) produces near real-time operational surface and precipitation products from the AMSU-A, AMSU-B and MHS instruments aboard NOAA and METOP satellites. The operational products include Antenna Temperatures, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water, Sea Ice Concentration, Land Surface Temperature, Land Surface Emissivity at 23.8, 31.4 and 50.3 GHz, Snow Cover, Rain Rate, Snow Water Equivalent and Ice-Water Path. Both Level-II (orbital) and Level-III (grid) products are available.The MSPPS orbital products include Antenna Temperatures from AMSU-A and AMSU-B/MHS, Total Precipitable Water, Cloud Liquid Water, Sea Ice Concentration, Land Surface Temperature, Land Surface Emissivity at 23.8, 31.4 and 50.3 GHz from AMSU-A and Snow Cover, Rain Rate, Ice-Water Path and Snow-Water Equivalent from AMSU-B/MHS. These level 2 products are available on an orbital basis for each instrument in BUFR and HDF-EOS formats. For validation purpose, the similar products from SSMI Sensor Data Records and Environmental Data Records are also converted into HDF-EOS format and included as a part of the MSPPS suite and are available to users. Available Time Period: 1997 - Present

Pathfinder (from AVHRR) (AVHRRPF)

The current AVHRRPF (or PATMOS) data sets cover the following satellites and time periods: NOAA-7 (9/81 - 1/85), NOAA-9 (2/85 - 10/88), NOAA-11 (11/88 - 8/94), and NOAA 14 (3/96 - 12/00). PATMOS-A1 computes statistics of the radiances in all five channels of the AVHRR from clear and cloudy 2x2 pixel arrays and from the total cloud amount for a total of 71 parameters. PATMOS-A2 computes statistics of aerosol optical thickness over the oceans, shortwave absorbed radiation, outgoing longwave radiation parameters of the radiation budget at the top of the atmosphere. Data presented here is extracted from PATMOS-A2 monthly mean. Available Time Period: 19810715 - 20001214

Radiation Budget Data (RBUD)

The Radiation Budget product suite is produced from the primary morning and afternoon Polar Orbiters. Product shows a measure of the longwave radiation emitted (W/m^2) by the earth-atmosphere system to space. The observations are displayed on a one degree equal area map for the day and night. Available Time Period: 1979-01 - Present

Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS)

The TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) system consisted of three instruments: the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder Version 2 (HIRS/2), the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) and the Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU). This system was onboard the NOAA-6 through NOAA-14 and TIROS-N satellites. The Advanced TOVS (ATOVS) replaced the TOVS instruments starting from NOAA-15 onwards. It consists of HIRS/3, the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) and AMSU-B. The Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS), developed by EUMETSAT, replaced AMSU-B on NOAA-18 and the European MetOp satellites. Currently the ATOVS is generating products from the NOAA-15, 16, 18 and METOP-A satellites. This instrument package provides information on temperature and humidity profiles, total ozone, clouds and radiation on a global scale. Available Time Period: 19781019 - Present

Environmental Data from Geostationary Satellites

The GOES satellites help meteorologists monitor and predict weather events, including tropical storms, tornadoes, flash floods, and other severe weather in the western hemisphere. In addition, GOES satellites monitor dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires. These stationary satellites can scan the same area of the earth as frequently as every minute.

GOES Satellite Data - Block 11 (GVAR_B11)

GVAR is the data transmission format used to broadcast environmental data measured by the independent GOES Imager and Sounder instruments. The Block 11 data files contain ancillary imager instrument data and metadata that may be useful to expert users as well as the raw soundings that have occurred over a one hour period. Available Time Period: 19950702 - Present

GOES Satellite Data - Imager (GVAR_IMG)

The GOES Imager is a five-channel (one visible, four infrared) imaging radiometer designed to sense radiant and solar reflected energy from sampled areas of the earth. GVAR is the data transmission format used to broadcast environmental data measured by the independent GOES Imager and Sounder instruments, beginning with GOES-8 launched in 1994. Data distribution formats available are raw, AREA, NetCDF, GIF, and JPEG. Available Time Period: 19940831 - Present

GOES Satellite Data - Sounder (GVAR_SND)

The GOES Sounder measures emitted radiation in 18 thermal infrared bands that are sensitive to temperature, moisture, and ozone, and reflected solar radiation in one visible band. The "footprint" or spatial resolution of the Earth sampling is 8 km with 13 bit data transmitted to the GOES receiving facilities. The Sounder data for one sounding has been extracted out of the GVAR data stream and stored in McIDAS Area format. Data distribution formats available are raw, AREA, NetCDF, GIF, and JPEG. Available Time Period: 19940831 - Present

GOES Satellite Data - VISSR/VAS (GOES-7 and earlier) (PRE_GVAR)

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series of satellites goal is to monitor the atmosphere for severe weather development such as tornadoes, flash floods, hail storms and hurricanes. The positioning of the GOES satellites at around 36,000 km (22,000 statute miles) above the equator at a fixed position above the earth allowed them to scan large geographic regions of the Western Hemisphere and as frequently as once every half hour. Coverage is typically provided by two GOES spacecraft, one at -75.0 Longitude (GOES East) and the other at -135.0 Longitude (GOES West). The Visible and Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) was flown aboard NOAA Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS-1 and SMS-2) and GOES-1 through GOES-3 and modified to become the VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) flown aboard GOES-4 through GOES-7. Available Time Period: 1974-05 - 19960111

Sea Surface Temperature (from GOES) (GOESSST)

The NOAA's Office of Satellite and Data Distribution (OSDPD) generates geostationary sea surface temperature (SST) products. These products are derived from NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and Japan's Multi-functional Transport Satellite 1 Replacement (MTSAT-1R). They are available for the coastal United States including Alaska and Hawaii. Available Time Period: 20001130 - Present

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

The DMSP designs, builds, launches, and maintains satellites monitoring the meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial physics environments. Equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite that can image visible and infrared cloud cover, the satellites collect specialized meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-geophysical information in all weather conditions.

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)

The DMSP is a Department of Defense (DoD) program which is responsible for designing, building, launching, and operating polar-orbiting environmental satellites. Data collected are from four instruments: Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSM/IS), Special Sensor Microwave Sounder (SSM/T), and the Special Sensor Microwave Water Vapor Profiler (SSM/T2). When the first SSM/IS instrument, aboard the F-16 platform, became operational in November 2005, it combined and extended the imaging and sounding capabilities of three previously separate DMSP microwave instruments: SSM/I, SSM/T and SSM/T2. Available Time Period: 19870716 - Present

Environmental Data Record Map NH DMSP-14 (EDRMAPNH14)

Microwave surface and precipitation products (EDRs) are produced by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instrument aboard DMSP-14 satellite. Product contains maps for the northern hemisphere that conform to a polar stereographic projection true at 60 degrees latitude. Available Time Period: 19970414 - Present

Environmental Data Record Map NH DMSP-15 (EDRMAPNH15)

Microwave surface and precipitation products (EDRs) are produced by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instrument aboard DMSP-15 satellite. Product contains maps for the northern hemisphere that conform to a polar stereographic projection true at 60 degrees latitude. Available Time Period: 20000124 - Present

Environmental Data Record Map SH DMSP-14 (EDRMAPSH14)

Microwave surface and precipitation products (EDRs) are produced by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instrument aboard DMSP-14 satellite. Product contains maps for the southern hemisphere that conform to a polar stereographic projection true at 60 degrees latitude. Available Time Period: 19970414 - Present

Environmental Data Record Map SH DMSP-15 (EDRMAPSH15)

Microwave surface and precipitation products (EDRs) are produced by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) instrument aboard DMSP-15 satellite. Product contains maps for the southern hemisphere that conform to a polar stereographic projection true at 60 degrees latitude. Available Time Period: 20000124 - Present

Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP)

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) is the first mission for a next-generation satellite system that provides an unparalleled view of the Earth from space. NPP carries the first of the new sensors developed for this next-generation system, previously called the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and now the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).

NPP Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)

Types of data products: Brightness temp, surface temp, rain rate, sea ice snow cover, TPW, IWP, CLW, and emissivity products

NPP Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES)

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NPP Cross-track Infrared Sounder combined with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (CRIMSS)

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) combined with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) globally produces atmospheric temperature, moisture and pressure profiles from space.

NPP Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)

Types of data products: Compressed radiance data; Cloud-cleared radiances; Carbon products (CO2, CH4, and CO); Radiation budget parameters; Blended Ozone products

NPP Auxiliary Files (NP_AUX)

NPP Auxiliary data sets

NPP Cal/Val Investigator Containers(NP_CONTR)

The Cal/Val Collaborative Team is responsible for the scientific oversight for sensor calibration and validation of the data products. These Cal/Val activities are conducted through four phases of the NPP Cal/Val Program. The phases are pre-launch, early-orbit checkout, intensive cal/val, and long-term monitoring. Pre-launch includes the development and test of the sensors and the development and verification of the algorithms. The early-orbit checkout occurs 30-100 days after launch and involves performance comparison to the pre-launch characterization results. Intensive Cal/Val lasts 18-24 months after launch and includes the calibration of the sensors and validation of the data products. Long-term monitoring extends through the life of the sensors to ensure that data products continue to meet their performance requirements. As the Cal/Val Program progresses through these phases, science teams perform studies which provide the scientific basis for the calibration updates and validate the data products. The findings of these studies are incorporated into packages/containers which are submitted for archive. Based on the study the contents of the container can vary. Typical contents include results, documentation, detailed directions to perform the study, software, algorithms, and data or links to data required to perform the study.

NPP Documentation (NPDOCL)

NPP Documentation

NPP Retained Intermediate Products - Gridded (RIP_GRD)

The NPP Retained Intermediate Products (RIPs) are a data processing by-product that is required for generation of NPP operational products, such as Environmental Data Record (EDR). The RIPs are temporary products that are not intended for operational users. Because of the scientific value of some of those RIPs they have been identified as valuable for calibration and validation efforts for current NPP and future missions. The NPP gridded RIPs contain datasets, or data arrays that are consist of accumulated or composited pixel data in earth-model grid cells.

NPP Mission Notices (NP_MSNNTCE)

Mission Notices and Data Quality Monitoring (DQM) reports

NPP Retained Intermediate Products - Non-Gridded (RIP_NOGRD)

The NPP Retained Intermediate Products (RIPs) are a data processing by-product that is required for generation of NPP operational products, such as Environmental Data Record (EDR). The RIPs are temporary products that are not intended for operational users. Because of the scientific value of some of those RIPs they have been identified as valuable for calibration and validation efforts for current NPP and future missions. The NPP Non-gridded RIPs contain datasets, or data arrays that are partitioned into granules.

NPP Official Dynamic Ancillary Data (NP_ODAD)

NPP Ancillary data

NPP Official Static Ancillary Data (NP_OSAD)

NPP Ancillary data

NPP Spacecraft (NP_SPCRFT)

NPP Spacecraft Telemetry

NPP Software Release Pkg (NP_SW)

NPP Software

NPP Test Data Release Pkg (NP_TD)

NPP Test Data

NPP Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)

Types of products: High performance Total Column environmental data records (EDR); Heritage TOMS V7 Total Column EDRs; High performance Ozone Profile EDRs; Heritage SBUV V6 Nadir Profile data records; IR Total Column data records from Cross-track Infra-red Sounder (CRIS) radiances

NPP Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

The Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite collects visible/infrared imagery and radiometric data. Data types include atmospheric, clouds, earth radiation budget, clear-air land/water surfaces, sea surface temperature, ocean color, and low light visible imagery. VIIRS contributes to 23 Environmental Data Records (EDRs) and is the primary instrument for 18 EDRs.

Sea Surface Temperature data (SST)

NOAA offers a variety of SST products derived from the raw radiance data collected by POES and GOES satellites.

Sea Surface Temperature (100 KM Global) (SST100)

Product shows global sea surface temperatures in degrees C. It is a composite gridded-image derived from 8-km resolution Global SST Observations and is generated daily on a global scale. SST is defined as the skin temperature of the ocean surface water. Available Time Period: 19721201 - Present

Sea Surface Temperature (14 KM North America) (SST14NA)

Product shows local sea surface temperatures (degrees C). It is a composite gridded-image derived from 8-km resolution SST Observations. It is generated every 48 hours for North America. SST is defined as the skin temperature of the ocean surface water. Available Time Period: 19860101 - Present

Sea Surface Temperature (50 KM) (SST50)

Product shows global sea surface temperatures in degrees C. It is a composite gridded-image derived from 8-km resolution Global SST Observations and is generated twice weekly (Tuesday and Saturday) on a global scale. SST is defined as the skin temperature of the ocean surface water. Available Time Period: 19740301 - Present

Sea Surface Temperature (from GOES) (GOESSST)

RADARSAT

RADARSAT is an advanced Earth observation satellite project developed by Canada to monitor environmental change and to support resource sustainaiblility. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a powerful microwave instrument that can transmit and receive signals to "see" through clouds, haze, smoke, and darkness, and obtain high quality images of the Earth in all weather at any time.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (restricted data) (SAR)

The CLASS inventory of Synthetic Aperture Radar data includes imagery of global and repetitive observations of the environment. Imagery is obtained by the ERS-1, ERS-2 and RADARSAT-1 satellites, which are flown in sun-synchronous, polar orbits. Imaging is acquired irrespective of weather conditions. The SAR radar sensor is a microwave instrument that sends pulsed signals to the Earth and processes the received reflected pulses. Data are processed at one of four sites: Fairbanks, USA; Gatineau, Canada; Tromso, Norway; or West Freugh, UK. Data are in a variety of Beam Mode/Positions and product types (geo-coded or geo-referenced) on various dates. Available Time Period: 19920601 - Present

Altimetry / Sea Surface Height Data (JASON-2)

This mission provides sea surface heights for determining ocean circulation, climate change and sea-level rise. The Jason-2 satellite is the follow-on to the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellites which have been instrumental in meeting NOAA's operational need for sea surface height measurements necessary for ocean modeling, forecasting El Nino/La Nina events, and hurricane intensity prediction.

OSTM/Jason-2: Ancillary Files (J2-ANC)

This collection of data contains OSTM/Jason-2 Ancillary data files. OSTM/JASON-2 is a follow-on mission continuing the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1, and is designed to ensure continuity of high quality measurements for ocean science and to provide operational products for assimilation and forecasting applications. The Jason-2 satellite was launched on 20 June 2008 and reached its nominal repetitive orbit on 4 July 2008. These data are archived at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) as accession 0044982 (http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/44982) and distributed through the NOAA/NESDIS Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS, http://www.class.noaa.gov). Available Time Period: 20080620 - Present

OSTM/Jason-2: Auxiliary Files (partially restricted)(J2-AUX)

This collection of data contains OSTM/Jason-2 Auxiliary data files. OSTM/JASON-2 is a follow-on mission continuing the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1, and is designed to ensure continuity of high quality measurements for ocean science and to provide operational products for assimilation and forecasting applications. The Jason-2 satellite was launched on 20 June 2008 and reached its nominal repetitive orbit on 4 July 2008. These data are archived at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) as accession 0044983 (http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/44983) and distributed through the NOAA/NESDIS Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS, http://www.class.noaa.gov). Available Time Period: 2008-07 - Present

OSTM/Jason-2: Orbit Information (J2-ORBINFO)

OSTM/Jason-2: Telemetry (restricted)(J2-TEL)

OSTM/Jason-2: Level-2 Geophysical Data Records (partially restricted)(J2-XGDR)

OSTM/JASON-2 is a follow-on mission continuing the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1, and is designed to ensure continuity of high quality measurements for ocean science and to provide operational products for assimilation and forecasting applications. The Jason-2 satellite was launched on 20 June 2008 and reached its nominal repetitive orbit on 4 July 2008. The level-2 X-GDR are available as 3 datatypes: Operational Geophysical Data Records (OGDR), Interim Geophysical Data Records (IGDR) and final Geophysical Data Records (GDR). The OGDRs are near-real-time records and are generated every 3-5 hours. They are based on orbits from DORIS propagator and forecast meteorological fields for the geophysical corrections. The IGDRs are based on preliminary DORIS ephemeris, analyzed meteorological grids, and preliminary auxiliary data files. The IGDRs have a latency of 1 - 2 days. The S-IGDR is a superset of the IGDR, containing the original radar echo "waveform" data. The GDRs are based on final high-precision DORIS (perhaps combined with GPS) ephemeris, final meteorological grids, ancillary and auxiliary data files. The S-GDR is a superset of the GDR, containing the waveform data. The S-GDRs are generated every 10 days. Sea Surface Height Anomaly (SSHA) files are available for IGDR and GDR. All files are available in NetCDF format and the OGDRs are also available in BUFR format. Jason-2 level-2 X-GDR data are distributed through the NOAA/NESDIS Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS:http://www.class.noaa.gov). These data are archived at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) as NODC accession number 0043269 (http://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/43269) and available via FTP at ftp://data.nodc.noaa.gov/pub/data.nodc/jason2, HTTP at http://data.nodc.noaa.gov/jason2 and OPeNDAP at http://data.nodc.noaa.gov/opendap/jason2. Available Time Period: 2008-07 - Present

OSTM/Jason-2: NRTAVS QA Reports (J2-QA)

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is a generic term used to describe the space-based constellations that provide carrier phase, code range, and clock information in support of 3-dimensional positioning activities. This term encompasses existing satellite navigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States and the GLObal'naya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) of Russia. This term also refers to upcoming satellite navigation systems such as the Galileo system of the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA), and the COMPASS/Beidou system of China.

Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), an office of NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS), coordinates a network of geodetic-quality CORS stations that provide Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier phase and code range measurements in support of 3-dimensional positioning activities throughout the United State and its territories. The positions of these CORS sites help define the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). NGS defines and manages the NSRS - the framework for latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, orientation and shoreline throughout the U.S. The NSRS provides a consistent national coordinate system to support mapping, charting, navigation, boundary determination, property delineation, infrastructure development, resource evaluation surveys, and scientific applications. The CORS system enables positional accuracies that approach a few centimeters relative to the NSRS, both horizontally and vertically.

Latency notice: For RINEX files, users must select a start date that is 32 days ago. For raw CORS files, users must select a start date that is 5 days ago.

The CLASS archive receives at-sampling rate CORS RINEX data 32 days before present. There is a 2-day latency as data is processed into the archive. Users interested in CORS data within the current 0 - 30 days can retrieve data directly from NGS at http://geodesy.noaa.gov/CORS/data.shtml and http://alt.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS/data.shtml.

The CLASS archive receives at-sampling rate CORS raw data from a select number of sites 5 days before present.

Data availability: CORS RINEX data from 2011:248 (September 5, 2011) until 32 days from present are available in the CLASS archive. CORS raw data from a select number of sites are available from 2012:344 (December 4, 2012) until 5 days before present. Older data are currently in the process of being migrated to CLASS.

While every effort is made to retain data in the original at-sampling rate, there may be cases where only the 30-second decimated rate data exists.

Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding Level 1B (GRAS)

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding (GRAS) is a European GNSS receiver on board MetOp-A that operates as an atmospheric sounder. GRAS uses radio occultation to measure vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature and humidity by tracking signals received from a constellation of GNSS satellites while they are setting or rising behind the Earth's atmosphere. Radio occultation is based on the fact that when radio waves pass through the atmosphere, either during a rise event or during a set event as seen by the receiver, they are refracted along the atmospheric path. The degree of refraction depends on gradients of air density, which in turn depend on temperature and water vapor. Therefore, measurement of the refracted angle contains information about these atmospheric variables. As the measurements are made tangentially to the atmosphere, the profiles will be provided with a resolution within a few hundred meters to 1.5 kilometers, while horizontal coverage of each profile is in the order of a few hundred kilometers. With the nominal number of GNSS satellites, GRAS will provide 500 precise atmospheric profiles every day nearly equally distributed over the Earth's surface. GRAS can track up to eight satellites for navigation purposes, two additional satellites for rise and two others for set occultation measurements. GRAS has on-board GNSS satellite prediction for optimizing the navigation and occultation measurements. GRAS level 1b products contain information on a per occultation basis, along with auxiliary information. Available Time Period: 20070914 - Present

Other - Miscellaneous products in CLASS

CLASS offers a variety of products mainly derived from satellite data at this time. Please select a product to read a high level description of the product.

NCEP Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts (NCEPWxCHTS)

The Weather Analyses and Forecasts Charts from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are produced on a daily basis at meteorological synoptic times, normally at 00 and 12 UTC. Chart contents contain constant pressure charts, including the analyses and forecasts of heights, temperatures, winds, relative humidity, vertical velocity, vorticity, lifted index, thickness levels, and wind shear. Also available are surface analyses and charts of the Atlantic and Pacific with special emphasis on specific areas such as the Gulf of Alaska. The geographic coverage of includes the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, Tropical and Polar Regions. The charts are represented in 6-bit binary, TIFF, JPEG and GIF image file formats over the period of record from February 1994 to the present. Available Time Period: 1994-02-01 - Present

Ocean Color Data Products (restricted) (OC)

NOAA CoastWatch produces near real-time ocean color products, e.g. chlorophyll-a concentration and turbidity (reflectance), with data from NASA's GeoEye's Orbview-2 satellite (via contractual purchase). The data is collected by selected HRPT ground stations.The level 1A data consists of raw radiance counts from eight bands (six in visible and two in near infrared spectrum), calibration data, navigation data, instrument telemetry and selected spacecraft telemetry. Each level 2 satellite specific product has unique characteristics dependent on the sensor and the algorithm applied. While level 2 historic data is open to the public, level 1 data is restricted to users covered by SeaWIFS CoastWatch contract due to limitations associated with commercial data. Users may find instructions on how to become registered users with SeaWIFS at http://coastwatch.noaa.gov/cw_faq.html#ocean%20color. Available Time Period: 19970904 - Present

Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Spectral Radiometer Version2 (SBUV/2)

The Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Radiometer-2 (SBUV/2) is an operational remote sensor designed to map, on a global scale, total ozone concentrations and the vertical distribution of ozone in the earth's atmosphere. The 1b Capture Data Set contains (1) all SBUV/2 sensor data and support data necessary for the derivation of atmospheric ozone and solar flux; (2) instrument in-flight calibration data and housekeeping functions for monitoring post-launch instrument changes; and (3) prelaunch calibration factors, and computed current-day instrument calibration and albedo correction factors to adjust the ozone algorithm for actual instrument performance.The Product Master File (PMF) contains ozone information located in space and time, other meteorological information developed in support of the ozone computation, parameters indicating the validity of the individual ozone retrievals, and the radiance information derived from the SBUV/2 measurements. Available Time Period: 19841212 - Present