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Extended Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) Sensor Data Record (SDR) in netCDF

The Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) is a seven-channel linearly polarized passive microwave radiometer that operates at frequencies of 19.36 (vertically and horizontally polarized), 22.235 (vertically polarized), 37.0 (vertically and horizontally polarized), and 85.5 GHz (vertically and horizontally polarized). The instrument was carried aboard Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites F8, F10, F11, F12, F13, and F15. The Sensor Data Records (SDRs) from SSM/I contain calibrated and earth-located data after antenna pattern corrections have been applied. These SSM/I SDRs in network Common Data Format (netCDF) have embedded temperature and geolocation flags as well as a climatology flag that calculates deviations from a climatological norm for each radiance footprint or z-score. The original radiance and geolocation data are not changed. Variable orbital files from the originating SDR dataset have been aggregated into 3-hourly files for ease of use.
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • gov.noaa.ncdc:C00795
C00795
XML
Order Data
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: 3)
    • File Specification: NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention (http://cf-pcmdi.llnl.gov/)
    • File Compression: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/docs/netcdf/
  • XML
Ordering InstructionsContact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
DistributorNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Hilawe Semunegus
Physical Scientist
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 828-271-4059
Hilawe.Semunegus@noaa.gov
Time Period1987-07-16 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 90
S: -90
E: 180
W: -180
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2009-01-14
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress StatusOngoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Continual
PurposeSSM/I observations provide valuable information on key climate parameters such as water vapor, precipitation, snow cover, sea-ice extent and land-surface temperatures.
Cited Authors
  • User Engagement and Services Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Originators
  • User Engagement and Services Branch
    DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Spectral/Engineering > Microwave > Brightness Temperature
Data Center keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • DMSP 5D-2/F8 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F8
  • DMSP 5D-2/F10 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F10
  • DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11
  • DMSP 5D-2/F12 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F12
  • DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13
  • DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14
  • DMSP 5D-2/F15 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15
Instrument keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • SSM/I > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Place keywordsGlobal Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global
Use 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.
Access Constraints
  • 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.
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: dataset
Processing Steps
  • https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JAMC2314.1
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • SSM/I > Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
Platform
  • DMSP 5D-2/F10 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F10
  • DMSP 5D-2/F11 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F11
  • > DMSP 5D-2/F12 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F12
  • > DMSP 5D-2/F13 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F13
  • > DMSP 5D-2/F14 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F14
  • > DMSP 5D-2/F15 > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-F15
Operation
  • DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Last Modified: 2023-06-23
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov