International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), Raw Radiance Data (B1)
ISCCP B1
In 1983, the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) began collecting satellite data from the international geostationary meteorological satellites as well as NOAA POES satellites around the world in an effort to characterize global cloudiness. Due to computing limitations at the time, data were subsampled to ~10 km were archived for future processing. This subsampled data is called B1 data. ISCCP B1 data are a collection of measurements from imagers on international geostationaru satellites which are sub-sampled to approximately 10 km and 3 hourly. The ISCCP B1 data are primarily composed of visible (VIS), infrared water vapor (IRWVP) and infrared window (IRWIN) channels (roughly 0.6um, 6.7um and 11um, respectively). The visible and infrared channels are window channels that are more sensitive to the surface than the atmosphere which helps discriminate clouds from clear sky [2]. Conversely, the water vapor channel is mostly opaque and as such, is not used in the ISCCP cloud mask algorithm.
- Also cite this scientific paper when used as a source: Knapp, K. R., 2008: Scientific data stewardship of International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project B1 global geostationary observations. Journal of Applied Remote Sensing, 2, 023548
- NCEI DSI 3645_01
- NCEI DSI 3645_02
- gov.noaa.ncdc:C00576
C00576
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Ordering Instructions | Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. |
Distributor | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov |
Dataset Point of Contact | Customer Engagement Branch
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 1-828-271-4800 ncei.orders@noaa.gov |
Time Period | 1978-01-01 to Present (time interval: 3-hour) |
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates |
N: 90.0
S: -90.0
E: 180.0
W: -180.0
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Data Presentation Form | Digital image
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Dataset Progress Status | Ongoing - data is continually being updated |
Data Update Frequency | Continual |
Supplemental Information |
Other supplementary data are included in the archive for this data collection:
(1) B2 - These are the source data files for the ISCCP products. Unfortunately, most providers sent B2 data directly to NASA for ISCCP processing. The archive contains very little of the B2 data used to derive the ISCCP B3 data. (2) BT - Calibration tables used to convert counts reported in B3 data to temperature/reflectance. |
Purpose | ISCCP B1 data are a unique collection of global geostationary data. This extended period of record enables researchers both now and into the future access to a high quality merged dataset for understanding cloud dynamics. |
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Theme keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
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Data Center keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
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Platform keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
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Instrument keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
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Place keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
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Project keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
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Data Resolution keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
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Stratum keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
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Lineage Statement | ISCCP was initially envisioned as a 5-year project but has now continued for more than 25 years. A federation of data providers (termed Satellite Processing Centers, SPCs), including the United States, Europe (EUMETSAT), Japan, Canada, China, and others supply raw satellite data to the ISCCP Central Archive (NOAA's Data Archive--or NCEI) and the ISCCP Global Processing Center (GPC) for processing into the ISCCP products. Each SPC subsamples full resolution geostationary data to roughly 10 km and 3 hours, thereby creating so-called B1 data. The B1 data have been archived at NOAA but were rarely accessed and suffered some data atrophy as a result. Due to the relatively large volume of the B1 data, the GPC processed B3 data, which are a subset of the full resolution data to 30 km. |
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Processing Environment | Variable. The data were created by numerous satellite processing centers. Each center used its own system to convert full resolution satellite data to the reduced resolution B1 data. Thus the B1 data in the archive are stored in dozens of different formats. |
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Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov