MSPPS Orbital Data

Metadata from the NOAA Metadata Manager and Repository (NMMR)

Identification Information:
Dataset Identifier:
gov.noaa.class:MSPPS_ORB
Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD > Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
20030720
Title:
MSPPS Orbital Data
More Information:
Operational Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products
This website has comprehensive information about MSPPS data.
More Information:
CLASS: MSPPS Orbital Data
Information about MSPPS Orbital data.
Search:
CLASS: MSPPS Orbital Data
Search MSPPS Orbital Datasets.
Citation Identifier:
gov.noaa.class:MSPPS_ORB
Description:
Abstract:
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.
Purpose:
The purpose of MSPPS is to produce near-real-time operational surface and precipitation products from the AMSU-A, AMSU-B and MHS instruments.
Documentation:
User's Guide:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
20050506
Title:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS), Users' Manual (UM)
Other Citation Details:
Prepared by: QSS Group, Inc., 4500 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
More Information:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS), Users' Manual (UM)
This document is a Users' Manual of the Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products (MSPPS) system. This manual will describe the "Day-2" system.
User's Guide:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.)
Originator:
Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.)
Originator:
Winston, Wayne (ed.)
Publication Date:
200009
Title:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 9.6.3.1 Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) Day-2 System
Edition:
Revision
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Asheville, NC
Publisher:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
More Information:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 9.6.3.1, Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) Day-2 System
Information about MSPSS datasets.
Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
1997
Ending Date:
Present
Currentness Reference:
ground condition
Status:
Progress:
In work
Maintenance and Update Frequency:
Orbitally
Spatial Domain:
Bounding Coordinates:
West Bounding Coordinate:
-180
East Bounding Coordinate:
180
North Bounding Coordinate:
90
South Bounding Coordinate:
-90
Processing Level:
Processing Level Identifier:
NOAA Level 2
Processing Level Authority:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Standards Working Group, Federal Geographic Data Committee
Publication Date:
20021009
Title:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata - Appendix B, NOAA Data Product Levels
Edition:
FGDC-STD-012-2002
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
590 National Center Reston, VA 20192
Publisher:
Federal Geographic Data Committee Secretariat c/o U.S. Geological Survey
More Information:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata, FGDC-STD-012-2002
The purpose of this standard is to provide extensions to the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata for describing geospatial data obtained from remote sensing.
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus:
ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme Keyword:
climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus:
NASA/GCMD Earth Science Keywords
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Temperature > Skin Temperature
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Liquid Water/Ice
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Rate
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Cryosphere > Sea Ice > Sea Ice Concentration
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Land Surface > Land Temperature > Skin Temperature
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Land Surface > Surface Radiative Properties > Emissivity
Theme Keyword:
EARTH SCIENCE > Spectral/Engineering > Microwave > Antenna Temperature
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus:
NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Standard Name Table
Theme Keyword:
surface_temperature
Theme Keyword:
atmosphere_cloud_ice_content
Theme Keyword:
precipitation_amount
Theme Keyword:
rainfall_rate
Theme Keyword:
sea_ice_area_fraction
Theme Keyword:
snowfall_amount
Theme Keyword:
surface_temperature_where_land
Place:
Place Keyword Thesaurus:
NASA/GCMD Location Keywords
Place Keyword:
Geographic Region > Global
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-15
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-A
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-15
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-B
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-16
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-16
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-A
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-16
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-16
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-B
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-17
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-17
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-A
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-17
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-17
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-B
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-18
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-18
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-A
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Platform Full Name:
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-18
Platform Short Name:
NOAA-18
Instrument Name:
Microwave Humidity Sounder
Instrument Short Name:
MHS
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Platform Full Name:
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13
Platform Short Name:
DMSP 5D-2/F13
Instrument Name:
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Instrument Short Name:
SSM/I
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Platform Full Name:
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14
Platform Short Name:
DMSP 5D-2/F14
Instrument Name:
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Instrument Short Name:
SSM/I
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Platform Full Name:
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15
Platform Short Name:
DMSP 5D-2/F15
Instrument Name:
Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Instrument Short Name:
SSM/I
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
EPS > EUMETSAT Polar System
Platform Full Name:
Meteorological Operational Satellite - A
Platform Short Name:
METOP-A
Instrument Name:
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Short Name:
AMSU-A
Platform and Instrument Identification:
Mission Name:
EPS > EUMETSAT Polar System
Platform Full Name:
Meteorological Operational Satellite - A
Platform Short Name:
METOP-A
Instrument Name:
Microwave Humidity Sounder
Instrument Short Name:
MHS
Access Constraints:
None
Use Constraints:
None
Point of Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person:
Limin Zhao
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/SSD/PIB > Product Implementation Branch, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Position:
Precipitation Product Area Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical Address
Address:
WWBG Bldg, 5200 Auth Rd, Rm 510
City:
Camp Springs
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746-4304
Country:
USA
Contact Voice Telephone:
(301) 763-8142 ext 125
Contact Facsimile Telephone:
(301) 899-9196
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Limin.Zhao@noaa.gov
Hours of Service:
7:30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern
Browse Graphic:
Browse Graphic File Name:
http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/PSB/IMAGES/nm_images/amsua_tpw_des.gif
Browse Graphic File Description:
Recent image of AMSU-A Total Precipitable Water from Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System.
Browse Graphic File Type:
GIF
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Data Quality Information:
Logical Consistency Report:
Since similar products are produced from the SSM/I, NESDIS/ORA has more than a decade of experience in SSM/I product verification and validation. Thus, for all products, comparable SSM/I products are one verification source. SSM/I data are used both for near-real time product monitoring and for product validation and verification. An ever-increasing suite of in-situ, remotely-sensed, and model-output data are being used in product validation and verification.
Completeness Report:
NOAA-17 AMSU-A1 suffered an instrument failure on October 28, 2003. As a result, AMSU-A channel-3 to channel-15 antenna temperatures are not available after this date.
Lineage:
Source Information:
Source Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
19981026
Title:
AMSU-A Level 1b*
Citation Identifier:
AMSUA_1b*
Type of Source Media:
digital
Source Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
19981026
Ending Date:
Present
Source Currentness Reference:
ground condition
Source Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUA_1b*
Source Contribution:
Level 1b dataset from which the scientific parameters are derived for MSPPS products.
Source Information:
Source Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
19981026
Title:
AMSU-B Level 1b*
Citation Identifier:
AMSUB_1b*
Type of Source Media:
digital
Source Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
19981026
Ending Date:
Present
Source Currentness Reference:
ground condition
Source Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUB_1b*
Source Contribution:
Level 1b dataset from which the scientific parameters are derived for MSPPS products.
Source Information:
Source Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
19981026
Title:
AMSU-A Level 2 Orbital Swath dataset
Citation Identifier:
AMSUA_SWATH
Type of Source Media:
digital
Source Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
19981026
Ending Date:
Present
Source Currentness Reference:
ground condition
Source Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUA_SWATH
Source Contribution:
Level 2 MSPPS product derived from AMSU-A and used to derive Level 3 MSPPS mapped products.
Source Information:
Source Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
19981026
Title:
AMSU-B Level 2 Orbital Swath dataset
Citation Identifier:
AMSUB_SWATH
Type of Source Media:
digital
Source Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
19981026
Ending Date:
Present
Source Currentness Reference:
ground condition
Source Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUB_SWATH
Source Contribution:
Level 2 MSPPS product derived from AMSU-B and used to derive Level 3 MSPPS mapped products.
Process Step:
Process Description:
AMSU-A Orbital Products Generation (OPG) subsystem generates the AMSU-A antenna temperatures and geophysical products for the AMSU-A swath files. AMSU-A OPG accesses the AMSU-A 1b data sets, and computes the antenna temperatures and geophysical products, and stores them (and related time, scan, and earth-location information) in the AMSU-A HDF-EOS Swath files. For conversion to BUFR at NCEP, the geophysical products and selected ancillary data are also being output as binary files.
Source Used Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUA_1b*
Process Date:
Not complete
Source Produced Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUA_SWATH
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person:
Limin Zhao
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/SSD/PIB > Product Implementation Branch, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Position:
Precipitation Product Area Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical Address
Address:
WWBG Bldg, 5200 Auth Rd, Rm 510
City:
Camp Springs
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746-4304
Country:
USA
Contact Voice Telephone:
(301) 763-8142 ext 125
Contact Facsimile Telephone:
(301) 899-9196
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Limin.Zhao@noaa.gov
Hours of Service:
7:30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern
Algorithm Information:
Algorithm Identifiers:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
Unknown
Title:
Algorithms for MSPPS
Algorithm Description:
Algorithm Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
Unknown
Title:
MSPPS Day-2 Products Algorithms
More Information:
MSPPS Day-2 Products Algorithms
Descriptions of the MSPPS Day-2 science algorithms. They are provided by the algorithm developers and are updated as needed.
Algorithm Change History:
Algorithm Change Description:
Process Step:
Process Description:
Total Precipitable Water (TPW) algorithm, Ice Water Path (IWP) algorithm and Rain Rate (RR) algorithms were updated on August 1, 2003.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Process Step:
Process Description:
TPW updated on March 4, 2005.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Process Step:
Process Description:
Snow Cover Algorithm updated on Jan 28, 2005. The new addition to the previous version extends the retrievals of snow cover to areas associated with above-freezing surface temperatures, which were labeled as "indeterminate" to remove confusion from warm rain. This "indeterminate" snow cover was sometimes misclassified as rain by the rain rate algorithm.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Algorithm Peer Review Information:
Algorithm Peer Review Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Zhao, Limin
Originator:
Weng, Fuzhong
Publication Date:
200204
Title:
Retrieval of Ice Cloud Parameters Using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
Series Information:
Series Name:
41
Issue Identification:
4
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Boston, MA
Publisher:
Journal of Applied Meteorology
Other Citation Details:
pp. 384-395, DOI: 10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041<0384:ROICPU>2.0.CO;2
More Information:
Retrieval of Ice Cloud Parameters Using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
White paper about an algorithm developed to derive cloud ice water path (IWP) and ice particle effective diameters from the advanced microwave sounding unit (AMSU) measurements.
Algorithm Peer Review Information:
Algorithm Peer Review Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Grody, Norman
Originator:
Zhao, Jiang
Originator:
Ferraro, Ralph
Originator:
Weng, Fuzhong
Originator:
Boers, Reinout
Publication Date:
200102
Title:
Determination of precipitable water and cloud liquid water over oceans from the NOAA 15 advanced microwave sounding unit
Series Information:
Series Name:
volume 106
Issue Identification:
D3
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Washington, D.C.
Publisher:
Journal of Geophysical Research
Other Citation Details:
pp. 2943-2954
More Information:
Determination of precipitable water and cloud liquid water over oceans from the NOAA 15 AMSU
About algorithms are provided for retrieving the total precipitable water (TPW) and cloud liquid water (CLW) over oceans using the AMSU measurements at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz and extensive comparisons.
Process Step:
Process Description:
The AMSU-B Orbital Products Generation (OPG) accesses the AMSU-B 1b* data sets, computes the antenna temperatures, accesses AMSU-A Swath files, produces geophysical products, and stores them (and related time, scan, and earth location information) into the AMSU-B HDF-EOS Swath files. For NOAA-15 and NOAA-17, because of RFI contaminated counts which are not corrected in the 1b* processing, this subsystem must also do the RFI correction.
Source Used Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUB_1b*
Source Used Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUA_SWATH
Process Date:
Not complete
Source Produced Citation Abbreviation:
AMSUB_SWATH
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person:
Limin Zhao
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSDPD/SSD/PIB > Product Implementation Branch, Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Position:
Precipitation Product Area Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical Address
Address:
WWBG Bldg, 5200 Auth Rd, Rm 510
City:
Camp Springs
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746-4304
Country:
USA
Contact Voice Telephone:
(301) 763-8142 ext 125
Contact Facsimile Telephone:
(301) 899-9196
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Limin.Zhao@noaa.gov
Hours of Service:
7:30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern
Algorithm Information:
Algorithm Identifiers:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
Unknown
Title:
Algorithms for MSPPS
Algorithm Description:
Algorithm Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
Unknown
Title:
MSPPS Day-2 Products Algorithms
More Information:
MSPPS Day-2 Products Algorithms
Descriptions of the MSPPS Day-2 science algorithms. They are provided by the algorithm developers and are updated as needed.
Algorithm Change History:
Algorithm Change Description:
Process Step:
Process Description:
Total Precipitable Water (TPW) algorithm, Ice Water Path (IWP) algorithm and Rain Rate (RR) algorithms were updated on August 1, 2003.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Process Step:
Process Description:
TPW updated on March 4, 2005.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Process Step:
Process Description:
Snow Cover Algorithm updated on Jan 28, 2005. The new addition to the previous version extends the retrievals of snow cover to areas associated with above-freezing surface temperatures, which were labeled as "indeterminate" to remove confusion from warm rain. This "indeterminate" snow cover was sometimes misclassified as rain by the rain rate algorithm.
Process Date:
Not complete
Process Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/ORA > Office of Research and Applications, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Ralph Ferraro
Contact Position:
Project Lead
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical
Address:
5200 Auth Road
City:
Camp Spring
State or Province:
MD
Postal Code:
20746
Contact Voice Telephone:
301-405-0893
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Ralph.R.Ferraro@noaa.gov
Algorithm Peer Review Information:
Algorithm Peer Review Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Zhao, Limin
Originator:
Weng, Fuzhong
Publication Date:
200204
Title:
Retrieval of Ice Cloud Parameters Using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
Series Information:
Series Name:
41
Issue Identification:
4
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Boston, MA
Publisher:
Journal of Applied Meteorology
Other Citation Details:
pp. 384-395, DOI: 10.1175/1520-0450(2002)041<0384:ROICPU>2.0.CO;2
More Information:
Retrieval of Ice Cloud Parameters Using the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
White paper about an algorithm developed to derive cloud ice water path (IWP) and ice particle effective diameters from the advanced microwave sounding unit (AMSU) measurements.
Algorithm Peer Review Information:
Algorithm Peer Review Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Grody, Norman
Originator:
Zhao, Jiang
Originator:
Ferraro, Ralph
Originator:
Weng, Fuzhong
Originator:
Boers, Reinout
Publication Date:
200102
Title:
Determination of precipitable water and cloud liquid water over oceans from the NOAA 15 advanced microwave sounding unit
Series Information:
Series Name:
volume 106
Issue Identification:
D3
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Washington, D.C.
Publisher:
Journal of Geophysical Research
Other Citation Details:
pp. 2943-2954
More Information:
Determination of precipitable water and cloud liquid water over oceans from the NOAA 15 AMSU
About algorithms are provided for retrieving the total precipitable water (TPW) and cloud liquid water (CLW) over oceans using the AMSU measurements at 23.8 and 31.4 GHz and extensive comparisons.
top
Spatial Data Organization Information:
Direct Spatial Reference Method:
Raster
Raster Object Information:
Cell Value Type:
16-bit integer and float IEEE
Raster Object Type:
Swath
top
Entity and Attribute Information:
Detailed Description:
Entity Type:
Entity Type Label:
Pixel
Entity Type Definition:
The smallest unit of information in an image or raster map, usually square or rectangular.
Entity Type Definition Source:
http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=knowledgebase.gisDictionary.search&searchTerm=pixel
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Total Precipitable Water
Attribute Definition:
Total column water vapor. Derived from channels 23 GHz and 31 GHz of AMSU-A aboard N15-N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/ist/poes2/index.htm
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.0
Range Domain Maximum:
0.75
Attribute Units of Measure:
millimeters
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
2.0
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) is 2.0 millimeters.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Cloud Liquid Water
Attribute Definition:
The amount of liquid water integrated through the depth of the atmosphere. Can be used to derive rain rate estimates. Derived from channels 23 GHz and 31 GHz of ASMSU-A aboard N15-18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/ist/poes2/index.htm
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.0
Range Domain Maximum:
6.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
millimeters
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
0.05
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) is 0.05 millimeters.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Sea-Ice Concentration
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channels 23 GHZ and 31 GHz of AMSU-A aboard N15-N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0
Range Domain Maximum:
100
Attribute Units of Measure:
percent
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
15
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS)is 15 percent.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Land Surface Temperature
Attribute Definition:
The temperature at the surface in land regions. Derived from channels 23 GHz, 31 GHz and 50.3 GHz from AMSU-A aboard N15, N16, N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
http://www.meted.ucar.edu/ist/poes2/index.htm
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
250.0
Range Domain Maximum:
325.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
Kelvin
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
5
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) is 5 degrees Kelvin.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Land Surface Emissivity at 23.8 GHz
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channel 1 of AMSU-A aboard N15-N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.3
Range Domain Maximum:
1.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
unitless
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Land Surface Emissivity at 31.4 GHz
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channel 2 of AMSU-A aboard N15, N16, N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.3
Range Domain Maximum:
1.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
unitless
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Land Surface Emissivity at 50.3 GHz
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channel 3 of AMSU-A aboard N15, N16, N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.3
Range Domain Maximum:
1.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
unitless
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Rain Rate
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channels 23 GHz, 31 GHz and 89 GHz from AMSU-B/MHS aboard N15 - N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.0
Range Domain Maximum:
35.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
millimeters per hour
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
2
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) of 2 millimeters per hour.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Snow Cover
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channels 23 GHz, 31 GHz and 89 GHz from AMSU-B/MHS aboard N15 - N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0
Range Domain Maximum:
100
Attribute Units of Measure:
Percent
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
5
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS)is 5 percent.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Ice-Water Path
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channels 89 GHz and 150 GHz of AMSU-B/MHS aboard N15 - N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0.0
Range Domain Maximum:
2.0
Attribute Units of Measure:
millimeters
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
0.10
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) is 0.10 millimeters.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Snow Water Equivalent
Attribute Definition:
Derived from channels 23 GHz, 31 GHz and 50.3 GHz of AMSU-B/MHS aboard N15, N16, N18 and METOP-A.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
0
Range Domain Maximum:
30
Attribute Units of Measure:
centimeters
Attribute Value Accuracy Information:
Attribute Value Accuracy:
1
Attribute Value Accuracy Explanation:
Accuracy (RMS) is 1 centimeter.
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Antenna Temperature Channels 1 - 1 5
Attribute Definition:
From AMSU-A aboard N15 to N18.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
TBD
Range Domain Maximum:
TBD
Attribute Units of Measure:
TBD
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Antenna Temperature Channel 1 - 5
Attribute Definition:
From AMSU-B and MHS aboard N-15 through N18.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Range Domain:
Range Domain Minimum:
TBD
Range Domain Maximum:
TBD
Attribute Units of Measure:
TBD
Attribute:
Attribute Label:
Quality Control Flags
Attribute Definition:
QC flags are for all attributes.
Attribute Definition Source:
TBD
Attribute Domain Value:
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-1
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Calculated product value larger than its upper limit
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-2
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Calculated product value less than its lower limit
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-3
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Calculated antenna temperature larger than its upper limit
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-4
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Calculated antenna temperature less than its lower limit
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-5
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of undetermined cloud liquid water
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-6
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of possible rain
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-7
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of possible snow
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-8
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of possible sea ice
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-9
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of coast
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-10
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of unknown reasons
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-11
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of possible desert
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-12
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Undetermined because of elevation (> 3000 m)
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
Enumerated Domain:
Enumerated Domain Value:
-99
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
Missing
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source:
Microwave Surface and Precipitation Products System (MSPPS) System Description Document (SDD), 2002
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Distribution Information:
Distributor:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/CLASS > Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Address:
Address Type:
mailing and physical
Address:
151 Patton Avenue
City:
Asheville
State or Province:
NC
Postal Code:
28801-5001
Contact Voice Telephone:
(828) 271-4850 x3183
Contact Facsimile Telephone:
(828) 271-4328
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
info@class.noaa.gov
Hours of Service:
9 - 5 EST
Resource Description:
MSPPS_ORB
Distribution Liability:
Disclaimer - While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or missions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Standard Order Process:
Resource Description:
File name format is - 

	* Processing-Center.Data-Type.Spacecraft-Unique-ID.Year-Day.Start-Time.Stop-Time.Processing-Block-ID.Source
	 (e.g. NPR.AABP.NN.D06233.S2243.E0031.B0646566.NS)
For more details go to Help pages at http://www.class.noaa.gov.
Digital Form:
Digital Transfer Information:
Format Name:
BUFR
Format Version Number:
2
Format Specification:
Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (FM 94 BUFR). For more information go to: http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/WDM/Guides/Guide-binary-1A.html.
Format Information Content:
For AMSU-A, AMSU-B, MHS orbital datatypes.
Digital Transfer Option:
Online Option:
Computer Contact Information:
Network Address:
Network Resource Name:
http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?datatype_family=MSPPS_ORB
Download:
CLASS: MSPPS Orbital Data
Download options for MSPPS Orbital Datasets.
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
CD-ROM
Recording Format:
n/a
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
DVD
Recording Format:
n/a
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
IBM LTO Tape
Recording Format:
n/a
Compatibility Information:
Generations 1, 2 and 3.
Digital Form:
Digital Transfer Information:
Format Name:
HDF-EOS Swath
Format Version Number:
HDF4.1r5 and HDF-EOS2.9v1.00
Format Specification:
User's Guide for HDF5

Release 1.4.5 available at URL: http://www.hdfgroup.org/HDF5/doc/H5.user.html
Format Information Content:
For AMSU-A, AMSU-B, MHS, SSMI orbital datatypes.
Digital Transfer Option:
Online Option:
Computer Contact Information:
Network Address:
Network Resource Name:
http://www.class.noaa.gov/nsaa/products/search?datatype_family=MSPPS_ORB
Download:
CLASS: MSPPS Orbital Data
Download options for MSPPS Orbital Datasets.
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
CD-ROM
Recording Format:
n/a
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
DVD
Recording Format:
n/a
Offline Option:
Offline Media:
IBM LTO Tape
Recording Format:
n/a
Compatibility Information:
Generations 1, 2 and 3.
Fees:
Electronic download (FTP) of the data is free. There is a fee for copies of data on physical media. Optical disks are $25.00 per unit and magnetic tape is $100 per unit. Price does not include additional service and handling costs.
Ordering Instructions:
The option to order data for shipping will occur at the order checkout stage, from which you will then proceed to another NOAA site to provide shipping and billing addresses and credit card information. Contact the CLASS Help Desk (info@class.noaa.gov) for instructions for payment by other means.
Turnaround:
Delivery of physical media occurs within 1 to 2 weeks, but may take longer for large orders.
Available Time Period:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date:
20030720
Ending Date:
Present
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Metadata Reference Information:
Metadata Date:
20081020
Metadata Future Review Date:
20070901
Metadata Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Contact Person:
Anna Milan
Contact Address:
Address Type:
Mailing and Physical Address
Address:
325 Broadway, Mail Code E/GC4
City:
Boulder
State or Province:
CO
Postal Code:
80305-3328
Country:
USA
Contact Voice Telephone:
(303) 497-5099
Contact Facsimile Telephone:
(303) 497-6513
Contact Electronic Mail Address:
Anna.Milan@noaa.gov
Hours of Service:
9:00 - 5:00 Mountain
Metadata Standard Name:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata: Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata
Metadata Standard Version:
FGDC-STD-012-2002
Metadata Extensions:
Online Linkage:
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/metadata/extensions/local_extensions.html
Profile Name:
NGDC Extensions to FGDC Metadata
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Platform and Mission Information:
Mission Information:
Mission Name:
POES > Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Mission Description:
The polar orbiting satellites are able to collect global data on a daily basis for a variety of land, ocean and atmospheric applications. Data from the POES series supports a broad range of environmental monitoring applications including weather analysis and forecasting, climate research and prediction, global sea surface temperature measurements, atmospheric soundings of temperature and humidity, ocean dynamics research, volcanic eruption monitoring, forest fire detection, global vegetation analysis, search and rescue, and many other applications.
Mission History:
Mission Start Date:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
19781013
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
TIROS-N launched. Instruments: AVHRR and TOVS.
Process Date:
19781013
Process Step:
Process Description:
TIROS-N began operations
Process Date:
19781019
Process Step:
Process Description:
TIROS-N ended operations
Process Date:
19800130
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-6 launched.
Process Date:
19790627
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-6 ended operations
Process Date:
19861116
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-7 launched
Process Date:
19810623
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA 7 began operations
Process Date:
19810819
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-7 ended operations
Process Date:
19860607
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) launched.
Process Date:
19830328
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-8 began operations
Process Date:
19830620
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-8 ended operations
Process Date:
19851031
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-9 (NOAA-F) launched.
Process Date:
19841212
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-9 began operations
Process Date:
19850225
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-9 ended operations
Process Date:
19881107
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-10 (NOAA-G) launched.
Process Date:
19860917
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-10 began operations
Process Date:
19861117
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-10 ended operations
Process Date:
19910916
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-11 (NOAA-H) launched.
Process Date:
19880924
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-11 began operations
Process Date:
19881108
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-11 ended operations
Process Date:
19950411
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-12 (NOAA-D) launched and began operations. Instruments: AVHRR/2, DCS/2, HIRS/2, MSU, SEM (POES)/2.
Process Date:
19910514
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-12 ended operations.
Process Date:
19981214
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-12 decommissioned.
Process Date:
20070810
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-13 (NOAA-I) launched and began operations.
Process Date:
19930809
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-13 ended operations.
Process Date:
19930821
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-14 (NOAA-J) launched. Instruments: AVHRR/2, DCS/2, HIRS/2, MSU, SARSAT, SBUV/2, SEM/1 and SSU.
Process Date:
19941230
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-14 began operations.
Process Date:
19950411
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-14 decommissioned.
Process Date:
20070523
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-15 (NOAA-K) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/3, SARSAT and SEM/2.
Process Date:
19980513
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-15 began operations.
Process Date:
19981215
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-16 (NOAA-L) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, HIRS/3, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2.
Process Date:
20000921
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-16 began operations.
Process Date:
20010320
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-17 (NOAA-M) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/3, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2.
Process Date:
20020624
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-17 began operations.
Process Date:
20021015
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-18 (NOAA-N) launched. Instruments: AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AVHRR/3, DCS/2, HIRS/4, MHS, SARSAT, SBUV/2 and SEM/2.
Process Date:
20050520
Process Step:
Process Description:
NOAA-18 began operations.
Process Date:
20050830
Mission Significant Event:
Process Step:
Process Description:
METOP-A launched. Instruments: A-DCS, AMSU-A, ASCAT, AVHRR/3, GOME-2, GRAS, HIRS/4, IASI, MHS, SARP-3, SARR and SEM-2.
Process Date:
20061019
Process Step:
Process Description:
METOP-A operational.
Process Date:
20070521
Platform Information:
Platform Full Name:
NOAA-15 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15
Platform Start Date:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
19981215
Platform Sponsor:
NOAA POES > NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites
Platform Sponsor:
NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Platform Description:
NOAA-15 (K) - 

	Launch: May 13, 1998.
	Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SEM/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2), Argos/DCS/2
	Operational dates: December 15, 1998 to Present.
	Operational Status: AM Secondary.
NOAA-15 was placed in a near circular, (450nm) polar orbit. It is the seventh operational satellite in the Advanced TIROS-N series. It is the first in the series to support dedicated microwave instruments for the generation of temperature, moisture and surface hydrological products in cloudy regions where visible and infrared instruments have reduced capabilities. The spacecraft was rectangular shaped (4.2m long by 1.88m high) and powered by a 6.14m by 2.73m solar array. The satellite was Earth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately 2200 kg.
Platform Orbit:
Ephemeris:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20050605
Time of Day:
06284035
Keplerian Orbit:
Orbit Period:
Orbit Period Units:
minutes
Orbit Period Value:
101.1
Eccentricity:
.0011440
Orbit Angle Units:
degrees
Inclination:
98.5
Right Ascension of Ascending Node:
164.97
Argument of Perigee:
38.7985
Perigee Passage Time:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
Unknown
Platform Information:
Platform Full Name:
NOAA-16 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-16
Platform Start Date:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20010320
Platform Sponsor:
NOAA POES > NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites
Platform Sponsor:
NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Platform Description:
NOAA-16 (L) - 

	Launched: September 21, 2000.
	Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SBUV/2, SEM/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2) and DCS/2.
	Operational Dates: March 20, 2001 to Present.
	Operational Status: PM Secondary.
Platform Orbit:
Ephemeris:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20030229
Time of Day:
184107
Keplerian Orbit:
Orbit Period:
Orbit Period Units:
minutes
Orbit Period Value:
102.0
Eccentricity:
.0009830
Orbit Angle Units:
degrees
Inclination:
98.9025
Right Ascension of Ascending Node:
8.9793
Argument of Perigee:
277.2505
Perigee Passage Time:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
Unknown
Platform Information:
Platform Full Name:
NOAA-17 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-17
Platform Start Date:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20021015
Platform Sponsor:
NOAA POES > NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites
Platform Sponsor:
NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Platform Description:
NOAA-17 (M) - 

	Launched: June 24, 2002.
	Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/3, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, AMSU-B), SBUV/2, SEM/2, SARSAT, DCS/2.
	Operational Status: AM backup.
Platform Orbit:
Ephemeris:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20030122
Time of Day:
220747
Keplerian Orbit:
Orbit Period:
Orbit Period Units:
minutes
Orbit Period Value:
101.2
Eccentricity:
.0012659
Orbit Angle Units:
degrees
Inclination:
98.7612
Right Ascension of Ascending Node:
94.2672
Argument of Perigee:
75.2605
Perigee Passage Time:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
Unknown
Platform Information:
Platform Full Name:
NOAA-18 > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-18
Platform Start Date:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20050830
Platform Sponsor:
NOAA POES > NOAA Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites
Platform Sponsor:
NASA > National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Platform Sponsor:
IJPS > Initial Joint Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System
Platform Description:
NOAA-18 (N) - 

	Launch: May 20, 2005.
	Instruments: AVHRR/3, TOVS (HIRS/4, AMSU-A1, AMSU-A2, MHS), SBUV/2, SARSAT (SARR, SARP/2) and DCS/2.
	Operational Dates: August 30, 2005 to Present.
	Operational Status: PM Primary.
NOAA-18 marks the beginning of the NOAA and European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) agreement.
Platform Orbit:
Ephemeris:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
20050607
Time of Day:
11424400
Keplerian Orbit:
Orbit Period:
Orbit Period Units:
minutes
Orbit Period Value:
102.1
Eccentricity:
.0014061
Orbit Angle Units:
degrees
Inclination:
98.7438
Right Ascension of Ascending Node:
105.7522
Argument of Perigee:
199.3746
Perigee Passage Time:
Single Date/Time:
Calendar Date:
Unknown
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Instrument Information:
Instrument Name:
AMSU-A > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A
Instrument Description:
Instrument Type:
sounder and profiler
Operational Mode:
cross-track
Collection Type:
stepped-line scanning
Other Collector Description:
AMSU-A is a 15-channel cross-track, stepped-line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 3.3 degrees at the half-power points providing a nominal spatial resolution at nadir of 48 km (29.8 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.3 degrees (-48.3 degrees) from nadir with a total of 30 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8 seconds.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.)
Originator:
Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.)
Originator:
Winston, Wayne (ed.)
Publication Date:
200009
Title:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.3, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A)
Edition:
Revision
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Asheville, NC
Publisher:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS > National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
More Information:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.3, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A)
This section of the KLM guide provides information about AMSU-A.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
EUMETSAT > European Meteorological Satellite Organization
Publication Date:
20040908
Title:
ATOVS Level 1b Products Guide, AMSU-A
Edition:
issue 1.0
More Information:
ATOVS Level 1b Products Guide, AMSU-A
Technical descriptions, spectral characteristics, scanning geometry and calibration of AMSU-A aboard MetOp-A satellite.
Instrument Information:
Instrument Name:
AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit B
Instrument Description:
Instrument Type:
sounder
Operational Mode:
cross-track
Collection Type:
continuous line scanning
Other Collector Description:
AMSU-B is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.1 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 16 km (9.94 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +48.95 degrees (-48.95 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.)
Originator:
Kidwell, Kathy B. (ed.)
Originator:
Winston, Wayne (ed.)
Publication Date:
200009
Title:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.4, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B)
Edition:
revision
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Asheville, NC
Publisher:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
More Information:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.4, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-B (AMSU-B)
This section of the KLM guide describes the AMSU-B sensor.
Instrument Information:
Instrument Name:
MHS > Microwave Humidity Sounder
Instrument Description:
Instrument Type:
sounder
Operational Mode:
cross-track
Collection Type:
continuous line scanning
Other Collector Description:
MHS is a 5 channel cross-track, continuous line scanning, total power microwave radiometer. The instrument has an instantaneous field-of-view of 1.11 degrees. Spatial resolution at nadir is nominally 17 km (10.56 mi). The antenna provides a cross-track scan, scanning +50 degrees (-50 degrees) from nadir with a total of 90 Earth fields-of-view per scan line. This instrument completes one scan every 8/3 seconds.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Goodrum, Geoffrey (ed.)
Originator:
Kidwell, Katherine B. (ed.)
Originator:
Winston, Wayne (ed.)
Publication Date:
200009
Title:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 7.6, Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS)
Edition:
Revision
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Asheville, NC
Publisher:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
More Information:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 7.6, Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS)
Describes calibration methods for MHS aboard NOAA KLM satellites.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
Goodrum, Geoffrey
Originator:
Kidwell, Kathy B.
Originator:
Winston, Wayne
Publication Date:
200009
Title:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.9, Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS)
Edition:
revision
Publication Information:
Publication Place:
Asheville, NC
Publisher:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
More Information:
NOAA KLM User's Guide, Section 3.9, Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS)
Description of MHS sensor aboard NOAA KLM satellites.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
EPS > EUMETSAT Polar System
Publication Date:
20040908
Title:
ATOVS Level 1b Products Guide, MHS
Edition:
Issue 1.0
Other Citation Details:
Ref.: EUM/OPS-EPS/MAN/04/0030
More Information:
ATOVS Level 1b Products Guide, MHS
Technical description, spectral characteristics, scanning geometry and instrument calibration of MHS instrument aboard METOP-A.
Instrument Information:
Instrument Name:
SSM/I > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Instrument Description:
Instrument Type:
imager
Collection Type:
conical scan
Other Collector Description:
The instrument sweeps a 450 cone around the satellite velocity vector so that the Earth incidence angle is always 540. Data are recorded during the 102.40 of the cone when the antenna beam intercepts the Earth's surface. The channel footprint varies with channel energy, position in the scan, along scan or along track direction and altitude of the satellite. The 85 GHz footprint is the smallest with a 13 x 15 km and the 19 GHz footprint is the largest at 43 x 69 km. Because the 85 GHz footprint is so small, it is sampled twice as often, i.e., 128 times a scan. One data cycle consists of 4 85 GHz scans and 2 scans of the 19, 22 and 37 GHz channels. The complete cycle takes 28 seconds and it must be complete to process the data.
Instrument Reference:
Citation Information:
Originator:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publication Date:
Unknown
Title:
SSM/I- Microwave Imager
More Information:
SSM/I- Microwave Imager
Short description of SSM/I sensor aboard DMSP satellites.
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