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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present

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This collection contains Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR) data. 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.
  • Cite as: NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-xGDR. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:Jason3-xGDR
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Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: netCDF-3)
    • File Specification: CF-1.1, 20091001
  • BUFR (Version: 20091001)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2015-04-01 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -66
North: 66
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Ancillary Files, 2015-present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-Ancillary.
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Auxiliary Files, 2015-present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-Auxiliary.
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Near Real-Time Altimetry Validation System (NRTAVS) QA Reports, 2015 - present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-NRTAVS.
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3: Orbital Information, 2015-present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-OrbitInfo.
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Telemetry data, 2015-present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-Telemetry.
  • NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). OSTM/Jason-2 and Jason-3 Documentation and Data Documentation Records, 2008 to present. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/OSTM-Jason2-3-Docs.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2020-04-27
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency Daily
Supplemental Information
Jason-3 is the fourth mission in U.S.-European Joint Altimetry Satellite Oceanography Network series of satellite missions that measure the height of the ocean surface. The mission will extend the time series of ocean surface topography measurements begun by the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite mission in 1992 and continuing through the JASON-1 and OSTM/Jason-2 missions. These measurements provide scientists with critical information about circulation patterns in the ocean and about both global and regional changes in sea level and the climate implications of a warming world.

TOPEX/Poseidon and JASON-1 were cooperative missions between NASA and the French space agency, CNES. Additional partners in the OSTM/Jason-2 mission included NOAA and EUMETSAT. Jason-3 continues the international cooperation, with NOAA and Eumetsat leading the efforts, along with partners NASA and CNES.

The primary instrument on Jason-3 is a radar altimeter. The altimeter measures sea-level variations over the global ocean with very high accuracy (as 1.3 inches or 3.3 centimeters, with a goal of achieving 1 inch or 2.5 centimeters).

The Jason-3 satellite was launched on 17 January 2016 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher, and was placed into the same orbit as OSTM/Jason-2, at an altitude of 1,336 kilometers with an inclination of 66 degrees, to provide virtually blanket coverage of all ice-free ocean surfaces. The satellite went operational on 14 October 2016.
Purpose To ensure operational continuity for the collection and distribution of high-resolution data on ocean currents and their variations, as well as sea surface height measurements. High-precision ocean altimetry measures the distance between a satellite and the ocean surface to within a few centimeters. Accurate observations of variations in sea surface height (ocean topography) provide scientists with information about the speed and direction of ocean currents and heat stored in the ocean. This information, in turn, reveals global climate variations.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
  • All GDR files are planned to be made publicly accessible, except for the files generated during the mission’s initial pre-operational phase and during the expected 8-month Gavdos-Crete Laboratory of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) facility assessment period. This period is expected to begin 1 month after launch but varies based on datatype. For OGDR, OGDR-BUFR and OGDR-SSHA, Cal/Val assessment data is expected to begin 1 month after launch, with Cal/Val assessment IGDR, S-IGDR, and IGDR-SSHA data expected shortly thereafter. Cal/Val assessment of GDR, S-GDR, and GDR-SSHA data is then expected to begin roughly 6 months after launch.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-xGDR. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Jason-3 is a collaboration between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), CNES, and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
  • satelliteObservation
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords None
  • altimetry
  • climate change
  • sea level
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Data Resolution keywords Spatial Resolution
  • 2 km
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Stratum Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations; NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution (2020). Jason-3 Level-2 Operational, Interim and Final Geophysical Data Records (X-GDR), 2016 to present. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/Jason3-xGDR. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: series
Processing Steps
  • 2020-04-27T22:39:18Z - NCEI Accession 0122595 v1.1 was published.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • AMR
  • DORIS
  • LRA
  • Poseidon-3B
Platform
  • Jason-3
Last Modified: 2023-12-19T15:16:12Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov