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Multiparameter: SSM/I Pathfinder Atmospheric Moisture Level 2 (NOAA, NASA, MSFC, Wentz)

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Table
Abstract
Citation

Product 076
Data
(Binary)
 Documentation Software FAQs Start Time End Time Temporal
Resolution		 Spatial
Coverage 		Spatial
Resolution
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table 001
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N/A

 Data Set Guide Supplied With
Data Package		 N/A Aug 1987 Dec 1988 Swath - Global

Abstract
ab076

Source/sensor: SSM/I, DMSP F-8

Coverage: August 1987-December 1988, global

Abstract: This data product contains atmospheric moisture (cloud/rain liquid water and columnar water vapor) over the ocean for a seventeen month period (1987-08-01 to 1988-12-31). The product is level 2 product i.e., swath data, ( level 3 data is product # 077). The difference between the swath product and the Wentz geophysical products available as JPL PO.DAAC Product #034, SSM/I F-8 ocean wind speed, liquid water, water vapor '87-'91 (Wentz), is that the Pathfinder product is in HDF which is the EOS standard data format. Product #034 covers a longer time period. The correction to cloud/rain liquid water identified by Wentz (1992) was applied to the Pathfinder data sets. A value of cloud/rain liquid water equal to or greater than 18 mg/cm2 is a qualitative indicator of rain. These parameters are calculated over water areas (plus coastal, sea ice, and possible sea ice areas) using the algorithms developed by Wentz (1989, 1992). Because Wentz cautions that parameters calculated over fresh water lakes are suspect as are those within 50-100 km of the coast, values over the open ocean or seas are the most reliable. Values over coastal, possible sea ice, and sea ice areas are calculated, but are flagged because of the questionable validity of the algorithm over these areas. The liquid water and water vapor products are stored together in a daily file, along with a browse image of each product. This data product was produced and distributed by MSFC and is now being archived and distributed at the JPL PO.DAAC. It is a closed data set. Frank Wentz has improved the algorithm and is currently reprocessing all SSM/I data (F-8 and F-10) to provide a new Pathfinder data set. The JPL PO.DAAC anticipates that the reprocessed data will replace product 076 when it becomes available. People interested in the Pathfinder SSM/I data should also consider product #078.

Data Set Vol: 3919 MB compressed

Smallest order: Entire data set

Std product: HDF data on 8mm tape

Formats: HDF

Citation
ci076

References:
Burns, Beverly, 1995, NOAA-NASA SSM/I Pathfinder Level 2 and Level 3 Atmospheric Moisture Products, on-line guide; http://podaac.jpl.nasa.gov:2031/DATASET_DOCS/ssmi_pathfindr_am.html (Provided with data)

Hollinger, J. P., R. Lo, G. Poe, R. Savage, and J. Peirce,1987: Special Sensor Microwave/Imager User's Guide.

Hollinger, J. P., ed, 1989: DMSP Special Sensor Microwave/Imager Calibration/Validation - Final Report, Volume 1.

Wentz, Frank J., 1992: Revision-1 Update For SSM/I Geophysical Tapes User's Manual, RSS Technical Report 040792, Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa, CA, 11pp.

Wentz, F.J., 1991: Revision-1 User's Manual SSM/I Antenna Temperature Tapes, Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa, CA, 70 pp.

Wentz, Frank J., 1989: User's Manual SSM/I Geophysical Tapes, RSS Technical Report 060989, Remote Sensing Systems, Santa Rosa, CA, 16pp.

Hollinger, J. P., J. L. Peirce, and G. A. Poe, 1990: SSM/I Instrument Evaluation. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.28(5)

Wentz, Frank J., 1992: Measurement of Oceanic Wind Vector Using Satellite Microwave Radiometers. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 30, 960-972.

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