Source/sensor: Nimbus-7 SMMR

Coverage: November 1979-September 1984, global

Abstract: This data set consists of three ocean products: oceanic wind speed, columnar water vapor and columnar liquid water. The products are derived from the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) and were produced by F. Wentz (Remote Sensing Systems). The data cover a six year period from 1979 to 1984. The data are global and were derived from nighttime passes to reduce daytime calibration errors. The data are presented by swath and data exists for 13 cells across the swath, resulting in data records that correspond to cells that are approximately 60 x 60 km on the Earth's surface. Observations within 100 km of land are excluded and there is an ice flag. The products were produced from three of the 10 SMMR channels which closely correspond to SSM/I channels, using the same algorithm as is used to produce products from SSM/I data (PO.DAAC data sets #33, 34). Consequently the SMMR derived data can be used in conjunction with SSM/I derived data to achieve a longer time series. The data set is approximately 450 MB in size and is available in a variety of formats on magnetic tape. These data (and documentation) are also available via anonymous FTP to podaac.jpl.nasa.gov in the pub/ocean_wind/nimbus7 directory.

Data Set Volume: Approximately 450 MB

Smallest order: One year unless data is accessed via FTP

Formats:Binary in LINUX Tar via FTP or on a 8mm tape. References: Wentz, F. J., and E. A. Francis, "Nimbus-7 SMMR Ocean Products, 1979-1984," Remote Sensing Systems Technical Report 033192, Remote Sensing Systems, 1101 College Avenue, Suite 220, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, 1992, 36 pp.

Comments: None.