NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Particle Size Distribution (CPS)

ABI-L2-CPS

Example of the Cloud Particle Size product as generated by the GOES-R Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties algorithm.

The GOES-R Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Cloud Particle Size product contains an image with pixel values identifying a measure of the effective radius of the particles in a single cloud layer. It is defined by the ratio of the third and second moment of the particle size distribution. Separate algorithms are used for daytime, solar zenith angle to 82 degrees, and nighttime, solar zenith angle greater than 82 degrees, conditions. The product is generated in combination with the Cloud Optical Depth product by the same algorithms. The product includes data quality information that identifies whether the daytime or nighttime algorithm generated the pixel, and provides an assessment of the cloud particle size data values for on-earth pixels. The units of measure for the cloud particle size value is microns. Product data is produced under the following conditions for the daytime algorithm: Cloudy; Geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 65 degrees and to solar zenith angles of 82 degrees. Product data generated by the nighttime algorithm is produced under the following conditions: Cloudy; Geolocated source data to local zenith angles of 70 degrees and solar zenith angles between 82 and 180 degrees. The cloud particle size values reported range from 0 to 100 um. However, the size range depends on day/night conditions and the liquid/ice water phase. Cloud Particle Size product data is identified as degraded in the terminator region, which is a solar zenith angle between 65 and 82 degrees for the daytime algorithm, and 82 and 90 degrees for the nighttime algorithm. The measurement range for Cloud Particle Size is determined by the model parameterization used in the algorithm retrieval. For daytime retrievals, the effective radius is determined by the lookup table bounds, 100.4 to 102.0, corresponding to 2.51 to 100 um, for both liquid and ice clouds. For nighttime retrievals, the effective radiance is determined by the range of particle size models considered: 2 to 32 um for water clouds, and; 2.62 to 78.15 um for ice clouds where the retrieval of particle size diameter is related to the effective radius by a quadratic equation. The product image is provided at 2 km resolution on the ABI fixed grid for Full Disk, CONUS, and Mesoscale coverage regions from GOES East and West.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Program Office, (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Particle Size Distribution. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date].

Dataset Identifiers

doi:
ABI-L2-CPS
gov.noaa.ncdc:C01509
gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

C01509

XML


Download Data	GOES-16 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-16 datasets. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-17 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-17 datasets. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-18 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-18 datasets. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-19 AWS S3 Explorer (Region: us-east-1) (download) Browse view to explore the S3 bucket for GOES-19 datasets. Data can be found in the folders with this product name prefix. GOES-16 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-16. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-17 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-17. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-18 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-18. Data relevant to this can be found in folders with the prefix ABI-L2-CPS. GOES-19 Google Cloud Bucket Explorer (Region: US-multiple) (download) Browse view to explore the Google Cloud bucket for GOES-19 datasets. Data can be found in the folders with this product name prefix.
Order Data	NCEI Archive Information Request System (order) Search the data archive and submit an order for the dataset via the interface. NOAA CLASS Data Search and Order (order) Search the data archive and submit an order for the dataset via the interface.
Distribution Formats	NetCDF (Version: 4)
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 DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce ncei.sat.info@noaa.gov


Time Period	2017-06-08 to Present (time interval: 10-minute)
Spatial Reference System	urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	N: 81.3282 S: -81.3282 E: 6.2995 W: -156.2995
Spatial Coverage Map


General Documentation	NCEI Dataset Landing Page Landing page for the dataset. NCEI GOES-R Terrestrial Weather (ABI/GLM) Description of the products and related resources. Product Definition and Users' Guide (PUG) Vol.1 Main The Product Definition and User's Guide (PUG) document provides product descriptions and formats for all data and products produced and made available to users by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R) Core Ground Segment (GS). Product Definition and Users' Guide (PUG) Vol.5 Level 2+ Products The Product Definition and User's Guide (PUG) document provides product descriptions and formats for all data and products produced and made available to users by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R) Core Ground Segment (GS). Registry of Open Data on AWS Information on AWS data access. Google Cloud Landing Page (Region: US-multiple) Information on Google Cloud data access for GOES datasets.
Processing Documents	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group GOES-R Algorithm Working Group The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group creates the algorithms that process the quality controlled satellite instrument data and produces resulting data products. NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality Peer/Stakeholder Product Validation Reviews by satellite and product. GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents Descriptions of how the algorithms work, their underlying designs, and initial comparison with prior algorithms and results.
Associated Resources	GOES-R Program Document Library GOES-R Program Document Library Webpage with product algorithm, users guides, and education and outreach materials. GOES Operational Status - NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations GOES Operational Status - NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations GOES spacecraft status page.


Publication Dates	publication: 2018-02-22
Edition	Provisional
Data Presentation Form	Digital image
Dataset Progress Status	Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency	Continual
Purpose	The Cloud Effective Particle Size will be computed using the same algorithm that estimates the Cloud Optical Depth. Using both the visible and near-infrared bands during the day and the infrared bands during the night, the GOES-R Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties algorithm will retrieve, simultaneously with COD, the Cloud Particle Size. The Cloud Particle Size will provide valuable information about the radiative properties of clouds.
Use Limitations	For a complete description of use limitations for this baseline level 2 product, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).


Dataset Citation	Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Program Office, (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Particle Size Distribution. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date].
Cited Authors	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group GOES-R Series Program
Principal Investigators	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group
Resource Providers	GOES-R Series Program
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information


Theme keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Particle Size Distribution Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) Atmospheric - Upper-air - Cloud Properties
Data Center keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/STAR > Center for Satellite Applications and Research, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/OSPO > Office of Satellite and Product Operations, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords GOES-16 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 GOES-17 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 17 GOES-18 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 18 GOES-19 > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 19
Instrument keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords ABI > Advanced Baseline Imager
Place keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Geographic Region > Equatorial Geographic Region > Mid-Latitude Geographic Region > Northern Hemisphere Geographic Region > Southern Hemisphere Geographic Region > Western Hemisphere Geographic Region > Tropics Continent > North America > United States Of America Continent > North America > Central America Continent > South America Ocean > Atlantic Ocean Ocean > Pacific Ocean
Project keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords GOES > Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites ABI-L2-CPS gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD GRABIPRD gov.noaa.class:GRABIPRD
Data Resolution keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords 1 km - < 10 km or approximately .01 degree - < .09 degree Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Temporal Data Resolution Keywords 1 minute - < 1 hour
Stratum keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Vertical Location > Troposphere


Use Constraints	Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Program Office, (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Particle Size Distribution. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date]. 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.

Use Constraints

Cite as: GOES-R Algorithm Working Group and GOES-R Program Office, (2018): NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 2 Cloud Particle Size Distribution. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. [access date].

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
Lineage Statement	These data were produced by the NOAA Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO) and are archived at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Processing Steps	The Cloud Optical Depth and Cloud Particle Size products are generated by the GOES-R ABI Cloud Microphysical and Optical Properties (COMP) ground processing algorithms for daytime and nighttime. The daytime algorithm employs a physical retrieval based on theoretically computed lookup tables while the nighttime retrieval employs the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) calculations in an iterative physical retrieval that seeks to minimize the difference between the compute TOA brightness temperature and the observations. The algorithm processes the data pixel-by-pixel, choosing to use the daytime or nighttime approach based on the solar zenith angle threshold value of 82 degrees. The two approaches use different criteria to identify candidate cloudy pixels. The daytime algorithm processes pixels that are identified as cloudy or probably cloudy in the intermediate 4-level cloud mask. In addition to the the intermediate 4-level cloud mask, the nighttime algorithm processes pixels based on the intermediate cloud type product data that is generated by the Cloud Type algorithm. The nighttime processing occurs for any pixel that is identified as cloudy, probably cloudy, or probably clear in the intermediate 4-level cloud mask. However, because the nighttime retrieval requires cloud top temperature product data as input, which is generated only for cloudy, and probably cloud pixels, the nighttime cloud optical depth and particle size are flagged as invalid for pixels identified anywhere the cloud top temperature is invalid. Pixels in the product image with out of range values are assigned the minimum or maximum value in the valid range. The daytime algorithm is limited to local zenith angles below a threshold of 65 degrees. The nighttime algorithm produces degraded quality product data beyond the local zenith angle limit. However, because of the dependency on cloud top temperature, a valid product is restricted to the local zenith angle range for the Cloud Top Temperature product of 70 degrees. The product is generated for all solar zenith angles but is flagged as degraded in the twilight region where the solar zenith angle is between 65 and 82 degrees for the daytime algorithm, and between 82 and 90 degrees for the nighttime algorithm.The Cloud Optical and Microphysical Properties algorithm operates on 2 km pixels, generating an intermediate product at this resolution, but the delivered Cloud Optical Depth product is aggregated to 4 km for the Full Disk coverage region. 2017-06-08T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached beta maturity. 2018-12-14T00:00:00 - The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached provisional maturity. The GOES-16 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached full validation maturity. 2018-08-27T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached beta maturity. 2019-09-24T00:00:00 - The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached provisional maturity. The GOES-17 ABI Cloud Particle Size Distribution algorithm reached full validation maturity.
Processing Documents	GOES-R Algorithm Working Group GOES-R Algorithm Working Group The GOES-R Algorithm Working Group creates the algorithms that process the quality controlled satellite instrument data and produces resulting data products. NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality NOAA Satellite Information System Product Quality Peer/Stakeholder Product Validation Reviews by satellite and product. GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents GOES-R Algorithm Theoretical Basis Documents Descriptions of how the algorithms work, their underlying designs, and initial comparison with prior algorithms and results.
Source Datasets	NOAA GOES-R Series Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Level 1b Radiances NCEI landing page for ABI-L1B-RAD Source dataset landing page with general information and access links for the dataset. Description of Source: Level 1b radiances Temporal extent used: 2017-02-28 to Present Spatial extent used: N:81.3282 S:-81.3282 E:6.2995 W:-156.2995

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.

Last Modified: 2025-08-18

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